Comedian to appear in court in May
RUSSELL Brand has been charged with multiple sexual offences following a police investigation triggered by a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and reporting by The Sunday Times.
The 49-year-old was served with the charges by post at his home in Florida and is expected to return to the UK to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 2.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Brand has been charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The charges relate to alleged offences involving four women between 1999 and 2005.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred in Bournemouth and in the Westminster area of London. According to police, the earliest incident involves the rape of a woman in Bournemouth in 1999. Other alleged offences include an indecent assault in Westminster in 2001, an oral rape and sexual assault in 2004, and a further sexual assault in 2005.
Brand, who has consistently denied all allegations, responded to the charges in a video posted to social media. He said: “I was a fool, man, before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile — but what I never was, was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity.”
He added that he is looking forward to the opportunity to defend himself in court.
The Metropolitan Police’s lead investigator, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers. Our investigation remains open and we urge anyone with information to come forward.”
In a statement, Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offences. We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.
“We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2, 2025.”
She added: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds 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.”
Support for those affected by sexual violence is available via the charity Rape Crisis at www.rapecrisis.org.uk or by calling the national helpline on 0808 802 9999.
