Russell Brand: russell brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges

Russell Brand, 50, has pleaded not guilty to two further charges of rape and sexual assault after appearing at Southwark Crown Court in London. The new counts, one of rape and one of sexual assault, are alleged to have taken place in 2009 and relate to two women; Brand entered his pleas from the dock.

Russell Brand in court

Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday and spoke from the dock to confirm his name and his not guilty pleas. He was described as wearing a fedora-style or monogrammed fedora hat, sunglasses and a patterned shirt variously described as leopard print or tiger-print, with several buttons undone; he also wore a dark jacket and at times had dangling necklaces. He carried a copy of the Bible into the court building with pages bookmarked and post-it notes visible; a dock officer removed the Bible before the hearing began and Brand was seen clutching it as he left.

Details of the new allegations

The two fresh charges—one count of rape and one count of sexual assault—relate to alleged incidents in London in 2009 and are said to involve two women. Brand was charged in December with those counts and entered not guilty pleas at the short hearing. He told a journalist he was feeling "Blessed" ahead of the hearing.

Previous charges and trial dates

Brand has previously denied five other sexual offence charges: two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. Those earlier allegations are said to relate to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005 in London and Bournemouth and involve four women. The five original charges were announced in April last year; with the two new counts he has now pleaded not guilty to seven charges in total. A trial has been scheduled for June to hear the original charges, and a case management hearing will be held in March.

Bail, hearings and court exchange

Recorder Andrew Baumgartner told Brand there would be a further case management hearing in March and said he would renew his bail, adding: "Mr Brand I’m sure you’ve heard everything we’ve been talking about. I will renew your bail. " The judge reminded Brand of his bail conditions and asked if he understood; Brand replied, "Yes, your lordship. " He was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be fixed. Brand’s lawyer said his client needed more time to address the further allegations.

Leaving court and outside events

After the short hearing Brand left the courtroom and the building; he was picked up in a black Mercedes and was again seen carrying a Bible. As he left, there was a brief scuffle between his security and a cameraman outside the court. Four men who had been sitting in the public gallery left with him alongside his legal team.

How the allegations emerged

Detectives began investigating allegations into Brand following media reporting in 2023 by several publications and a television programme. The night before those publications, Brand denied the claims in a video posted online, saying that all of his relationships had been consensual and accusing the media of a "coordinated attack. "

Background and personal life

Brand, who was born in Essex, rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and became a household name hosting TV shows such as Big Brother's Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack and presenting radio programmes between 2006 and 2008. He later established a Hollywood career, starring in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek. He was married to the US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012. He is now married to Laura Gallacher, the sister of the TV presenter Kirsty, and the pair have three children.

Brand is on bail and will return to Southwark Crown Court for further hearings as the legal process continues.