Russell Brand arrives at court to face rape and sexual assault charges

Brand faces claims he raped two women and tried to drag another into a male toilet

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Russell Brand has arrived at court in London to face rape and sexual assault charges for the first time.

The 50-year-old faced a scrum of photographers as he entered Westminster magistrates court on Friday, flanked by police and security guards, to face two allegations of rape, two charges of sexual assault, and a count of indecent assault.

Brand is accused of incidents between 1999 and 2005 in Bournemouth and the Westminster area of London.

The charges laid before the court show Brand is accused of indecently assaulting one woman in 2001 by allegedly “grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet”.

Brand is accused of raping a woman in 1999 and allegedly groped the breasts of another woman and forced her to perform oral sex in 2004.

Photographers surround Russell Brand as he arrives at court (James Manning/PA)

PA Wire

A fourth alleged victim says Brand sexually assaulted her by touching in 2005.

Brand, wearing a half-unbuttoned black shirt, dark jeans, and gold-rimmed sunglasses, was swamped by photographers as he arrived at court.

His entourage of security guards formed a ring around Brand, while at least ten police officers were on hand to push away photographers.

Inside the courthouse, Brand embraced members of his team before going for a conference with his legal representatives.

Brand, who now lives in the US but has given his home in Henley-on-Thames as his address, was charged last month after a Metropolitan Police investigation.

He responded to the charges with an online video, stating: “I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”

He added: “Of course I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

This week, he posted a YouTube video in which he said he welcomes the upcoming criminal trial.

“If you were a member of the Labour Party, that's the governing party in my country the United Kingdom, you would want an inquiry into rape gangs so that you could be entirely exonerated. It's the same with me.

Russell Brand, who has been charged with rape and multiple counts of sex assault appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court,

REUTERS

“I want a trial because I know that I'm innocent. I know I'm a broken sinner and a wretched hopeless individual, but I know I'm innocent. So an examination - a thorough and intrepid examination - which establishes that innocence in the eyes of everybody, I welcome it. What a relief it will be.”

Brand is set to appear in courtroom one at the magistrates court at 10am on Friday. His case is expected to be sent to one of London’s crown courts, due to the serious nature of the allegations.

Detectives began investigating Brand in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, which followed reporting by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.

“A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at [email protected].

“Support is also available by contacting the independent charity Rape Crisis.”

Russell Brand arriving at Westminster Magistrates’ Court (James Manning/PA)

PA Wire

Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London North, added: “(We) remind everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

At the height of his fame, Brand was the star of Hollywood films, a sought-after stand-up comedian, and a regular presence on Channel 4 and the BBC.

He presented a BBC Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008, but left the role after an on-air prank, now known as Sachsgate, when he left a “lewd” voicemail for Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter.

Brand also presented on Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack in the noughties.

Brand is accused of two charges of rape, two charges of sexual assault on a female, and one charge of indecent assault on woman over 16 years of age.

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