Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges as court weighs new allegations

Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two further charges of rape and sexual assault, a development that increases the number of sexual offence allegations he faces and sets up additional hearings to determine how the new claims will be dealt with alongside earlier charges. The two most recent allegations are said to relate to incidents in 2009 and involve two women.

Russell Brand enters fresh not guilty pleas

The 50-year-old broadcaster, actor and media personality appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London to enter pleas. He spoke briefly from the dock to confirm his name and to enter not guilty pleas to the two recent counts, which include one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. These latest charges bring the total number of not guilty pleas in play to seven.

Details of the new allegations and the existing charges

• The newly charged offences are alleged to have taken place in London in 2009 and are said to relate to two women.
• Brand was charged in December with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault tied to those allegations.
• He has previously pleaded not guilty to five other sexual offence charges relating to alleged incidents between 1999 and 2005 involving four women — specifically two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.
• A trial has been scheduled for June to hear the original set of charges; a separate hearing will consider whether the new allegations should be joined to that case.

Courtroom moments, appearance and belongings

At his court appearances Brand drew attention with his clothing and the items he carried. Descriptions from the courtroom note he wore a fedora-style hat or a light-coloured monogrammed fedora, sunglasses, and an animal-print shirt variously described as leopard or tiger print, several buttons undone. He was also described as wearing a dark jacket on one occasion and dangling necklaces on another.

Brand carried a copy of the Bible into the court building; observers noted it contained bookmarked pages and colourful post-it notes, and was described as being stuffed with post-it notes in another account. On one occasion his hat was removed and the Bible was taken away by a dock officer before the hearing. As he left the building he put on sunglasses and clutched the Bible.

Judicial directions, bail and immediate next steps

Two judges named in court remarks set out the administrative path forward. Recorder Andrew Baumgartner said there would be a case management hearing in March. Separately, Mr Justice Bennathan indicated there would be a further case management hearing in March and said he would renew Brand's bail; the judge reminded Brand of his bail conditions, to which Brand replied that he understood.

Brand was bailed to appear again at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be fixed. He is expected to stand trial later this year on the five original charges while the court decides how to handle the additional allegations.

Investigations, public statements and profile details

Detectives began investigating allegations into Brand following recent coverage in 2023. Brand has publicly denied the claims in material posted online, stating that his relationships were consensual and accusing parts of the media of a coordinated attack.

Background details included in court accounts note Brand was born in Essex, rose to fame as a stand-up comedian, hosted television spin-off shows and presented radio programmes, and later appeared in Hollywood films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.

Personal details referenced in coverage list Brand's former marriage to the US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 and his current marriage to Laura Gallacher, the sister of a television presenter named Kirsty; that pair have three children.

Events outside the courtroom

When asked how he was feeling before one hearing, Brand replied that he felt "Blessed. " As he left court on one occasion there was a brief scuffle between his security and a cameraman outside. He was later picked up in a black Mercedes and could again be seen carrying a Bible as he departed the building.

Details in this article are drawn from recent court appearances and official statements made in those proceedings. Some matters remain under active judicial management and further details may emerge at the March case management hearings or at the scheduled June trial.