Laurence Fox has been charged with a sexual offence following allegations that he shared a compromising image of broadcaster Narinder Kaur on social media. The 46-year-old actor-turned-commentator allegedly posted the image in April last year, prompting Kaur, 52, to describe the incident as “unimaginably mortifying”. Fox later issued a statement claiming he “would like to apologise” to Kaur while asserting that he was not responsible for the image’s initial existence over 15 years ago. Following a month-long investigation, the Metropolitan Police have formally charged Fox, who resides in Peldon, Essex.
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Fox is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 24 April, facing an offence under section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The section, which was introduced in 2023, criminalises the intentional sharing of sexual images without consent, particularly if the act is intended to cause humiliation, distress, or alarm. The law complements earlier legislation that made upskirting—taking intrusive photographs under a person’s clothing without their permission—a specific offence in 2019. While most recorded cases involve male perpetrators targeting women, legal provisions cover instances where the roles are reversed.
A significant push for legislative change came from campaigner Gina Martin, who spent 18 months lobbying for upskirting to be recognised as a criminal offence after being targeted at a festival in 2017. The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment and can result in placement on the sex offenders register. Martin’s campaign was pivotal in broadening discussions around privacy violations and gender-based harassment, influencing subsequent legal amendments such as the cyber flashing provision.
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Fox, a member of a prominent acting family, was best known for his role as DS James Hathaway in the detective series Lewis before shifting towards political commentary. His public profile changed dramatically following a controversial appearance on Question Time in 2020, where he dismissed allegations of racism in the media’s treatment of the Duchess of Sussex. He later became a vocal critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and founded the right-wing Reclaim Party, standing unsuccessfully in the London mayoral election. Fox was dismissed from GB News in 2023 following derogatory remarks about journalist Ava Evans, which prompted over 8,000 complaints to Ofcom. Meanwhile, Narinder Kaur, who rose to fame on Big Brother, has become a regular contributor to television debates, though she too has faced controversy, notably for comments regarding the Princess of Wales’ appearance following chemotherapy treatment.
