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It is worth noting, for the benefit of US-based readers, that the legal age of consent in the UK is 16.

Brand was 31 at the time, according to media reports.

It is worth noting, that the 16 year old girl has accused him of sexual assault.

So age of consent is not relevant.

Then neither is the age, so why bring it up?

Indeed. Americans tend to believe that the entirely arbitrary value of 18 set forth by many, but not all, states for the age of consent is somehow also a fundamental ethical principle.

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