Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been formally charged with further offences, including one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against two additional women. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the further charges against him in addition to previous charges, which involve four alleged victims.
The 50-year-old will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 20 in relation to the new alleged offences. Speaking of the new charges, Det Ch Insp Tariq Farooqi urged people with further information on the cases to come forward. “The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” he said.
“The Met’s investigation remains ongoing, and detectives urge anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators can be reached via email at CIT@met.police.uk. Support is also available through the independent charity Rape Crisis by contacting the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.”
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the TV presenter in September 2023 after The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches published an investigation into allegations about his treatment of women.
On May 30, he entered not guilty pleas at Southwark Crown Court to sex offence charges, including rape and indecent assault.
His trial on those charges is scheduled to begin on June 3.
Prior to that, he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2 this year to face charges of one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.
Those incidents are alleged to have occurred between 1999 and 2005 in Bournemouth and the Westminster area of London.
In a video posted on X after he was initially charged, Brand denied the allegations and told his followers: “I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
He continued: “I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had a wife and family, who are there just out of shot. I was a fool, man, I was a fool 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, and I pray that you can see that in my eyes.”