Russell Brand pleads not guilty to two further rape and sexual assault charges

Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to a further count of rape and a count of sexual assault, both alleged to have occurred in 2009. The new pleas, entered at Southwark Crown Court, expand a set of accusations that already includes five other sexual-offence charges and have prompted fresh case-management directions ahead of a trial arranged for June.

Russell Brand's court appearance at Southwark Crown Court

The 50-year-old broadcaster, actor and media personality entered his latest pleas on Tuesday at Southwark Crown Court in London, speaking from the dock to confirm his name and to enter not guilty pleas. He appeared in a glass-fronted dock and was bailed to appear at a date to be fixed, with judges setting a case-management timetable that includes a hearing in March.

New allegations from 2009 and original charges from 1999–2005

The two fresh charges—one count of rape and one count of sexual assault—are said to relate to two women and to events in 2009. Brand has previously denied five separate sexual-offence charges that were announced last year: two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. Those earlier allegations relate to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005 and involve four women. Taken together, Brand has now pleaded not guilty to seven charges in total.

Legal timetable, judges and courtroom directions

A trial has been scheduled for June to hear the original five charges. A hearing will determine whether the new allegations should be joined to that trial; Recorder Andrew Baumgartner said there would be a case management hearing in March. Mr Justice Bennathan confirmed that bail would be renewed and reminded Brand of his bail conditions; Brand replied, "Yes, your lordship. " Brand’s lawyer told the court the defendant needed more time to address the further allegations, prompting the additional procedural steps.

Items, dress and behaviour in court

Details of Brand’s arrival and conduct in court were noted in open proceedings. He entered carrying a copy of the Bible with pages bookmarked or stuffed with post-it notes, at one point clutching the book as he left. Officers removed the Bible before the hearing began. His attire was described variously as a leopard-print shirt with several buttons undone and a dark jacket, and in other accounts as a partially unbuttoned tiger-print shirt with dangling necklaces and a light-coloured monogrammed fedora-style hat; he also wore sunglasses. After the brief hearing he left the building in a black Mercedes, still carrying the Bible, and there was a brief scuffle outside between his security and a cameraman. When asked how he was feeling ahead of the hearing, he replied, "Blessed. "

Origins of the investigation and Brand's background

Detectives began investigating allegations after investigations published in 2023 by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches. The fresh charges were brought in December; the five earlier charges were publicly announced in April last year. Brand rose to public prominence as a stand-up comedian and as host of shows including Big Brother's Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, and he presented radio programmes on Radio 2 and 6 Music, with a period on Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008 noted in court material. He later moved into film roles in titles such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. Brand was born in Essex.

Personal life noted in court material

Court material and background notes set out aspects of Brand’s personal life: he was married to the US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 and is now married to Laura Gallacher, the sister of television presenter Kirsty; the couple have three children. The night before publication of the investigations that prompted the police probe, Brand posted a video denying the claims and saying that his relationships had been consensual, calling the media coverage a coordinated attack.

What makes this notable is the combination of procedural momentum and chronology: detectives’ inquiries following media investigations led to charges in December and public announcements in April, and judges have now set concrete steps—a March case management hearing and a June trial date—that will determine whether the new allegations are consolidated with the earlier case. The immediate legal effect is clear: Brand remains on bail and will return to court as the prosecution and defence prepare for trial.