Russell Brand today appeared in court where he faced charges of rape and sexual assault.
The comedian and actor is being represented by Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky, who successfully defended Kevin Spacey against sex assault allegations in 2023.
The 49-year-old was charged by post last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.
The court heard that Brand allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room in 1999 after they met earlier that day at a theatrical event following the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth.
Prosecuting Dhadda said: ‘He pushed her onto the bed, pulled down her trousers and knickers and he raped her. He left her with an email address.’
The court was then told about the second of Brand’s alleged victims, who accuses him of indecent assault.
Brand is accused of grabbing the woman by her forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet at a television station.
Comedian and actor Russell Brand has arrived at court to face rape and sexual assault charges
Police had to battle to hold back the crowd of photographers as Brand arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court
He arrived wearing gold rimmed sunglasses, a black shirt and trousers
The comedian and actor is being represented by Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky (left), who successfully defended Kevin Spacey against sex assault allegations in 2023
The court heard the third alleged victim was a television worker Brand met in Soho. He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and orally raping her.
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Russell Brand is represented by Kevin Spacey's lawyer as he hears rape and sex assault charges
The final complainant is a radio station worker who met Brand while he was working for Channel 4 on Big Brother’s Big Mouth, the court heard.
Brand is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks.
No pleas were entered to the charges. Brand was granted conditional bail ahead of the next hearing on May 30.
The judge then told him: ‘Mr Brand you face a number of allegations, five in total.
‘Some of them are what would be called indictable only – the court must then send them to he crown court for trial.’
He told the comedian he would next be ‘sitting at the Central Criminal Court – which you might know as the Old Bailey – for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 20 May.’
He stated: ‘You are obliged to attend on that date.
Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Russell Brand appearing in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London
At least six police officers had to intervene as the defendant was immediately surrounded
As he queued for security inside the court, Brand was seen touching a lawyer’s shoulder seemingly to check they were ok
British actor and comedian Russell Brand, who has been charged with rape and multiple counts of sex assault, leaves Westminster Magistrates’ Court
Brand quickly jumped into a taxi as he left court
‘If you don’t, and there’s not a good reason for that, you potentially face an offence of failing to surrender and the court will almost certainly issue a warrant for you arrest.
‘You could go to prison or be fined or both.’
The judge explained that Brand would be released on bail with conditions to provide his UK and US addresses to the court by 4pm today and to notify the court of any change in address.
‘Thank you very much you free to go.’
‘Thank you’, Brand replied, before being escorted from the dock holding a pair of glasses in one hand.
Brand arrived alongside Mr Schneider-Sikorsky at Westminster Magistrates Court wearing gold rimmed sunglasses, a black shirt and trousers.
At least six police officers had to intervene as the defendant was immediately surrounded.
In a video previously posted on his X account, Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.
Brand is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London.
The 2004 sexual assault charge alleges the actor touched the woman’s breasts without her consent.
He is also accused of indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 by ‘grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet’, and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005 – both offences are alleged to have taken place in Westminster, London.
Brand, who presented a BBC Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008, left the role after his on-air prank, now known as Sachsgate, when he left a ‘lewd’ voicemail for Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter.
He also presented on Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack in the noughties.
The TV and film star was married to US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 but is now married to Laura Gallacher, the sister of presenter Kirsty, and the pair have two children, Mabel and Peggy.