Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty at Southwark Crown Court as he entered a plea to sex offence charges, including rape and indecent assault.
The comedian and actor, 49, made his first crown court appearance on Friday after previously appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month, where he was charged.
Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court shortly before 10am, arriving in black Mercedes Benz which pulled up outside the court and was met swarms of photographers and broadcasters.
In courtroom number two, Brand, who wore a black shirt and gold sunglasses, stood in the glass fronted dock, and spoke to confirm his name
Russell Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Friday
GB News
The appearance came after the Metropolitan Police issued a charge and requisition to Brand in connection with a series of offences in April.
The charges includes one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault.
The defendant was asked how he pleaded to each of those charges and replied not guilty to each count.
The charges relate to four separate women and are alleged to have taken place in Bournemouth and London between 1999 and 2005.
Getty
The internationally renowned celebrity was charged with the offences on April 4 after a lengthy police investigation.
However, as Brand was in the United States at the time of the charging decision, arrangements had to be made for his voluntary return to appear in court.
The court heard an outline of the charges he faces: In 1999, it is claimed that a woman was raped in the Bournemouth area.
In 2001 a woman alleged she was indecently assaulted in the Westminster area of London.
Getty
In 2004 a woman claimed to have been orally raped and sexually assaulted the Westminster area of London.
Between 2004 and 2005, a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Westminster area of London.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The judge, Tony Baumgartner, the Recorder of Westminster set a provisional date of 3 June 2026 for the trial and is scheduled to last four to five weeks.
Mr Brand was released on bail and will appear in court again for a case management hearing on 25 July.
An investigation into Brand began in September 2023 after the police received a number of allegations.
The allegations emerged after reporting by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times.
Getty
Among the allegations is one dating to 1999 where a woman was raped in the Bournemouth area.
Another relates to 2001, where a woman was indecently assaulted in the Westminster area of London.
Most Read
