Russell Brand has appeared in a UK court via video link from the United States, charged with two further sexual offences, including rape. The 50-year-old comedian was charged in December with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault in relation to two women, with the alleged offences taking place in 2009.
During a brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon, Brand appeared via video link from Florida, wearing a partially unbuttoned blue denim shirt. He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring noted that one of the charges is indictable only, meaning it must be tried at Crown Court.
Brand was granted bail and is scheduled to appear at Southwark Crown Court in London on 17 February for a pre-trial preparation hearing. A trial is expected to begin later this year for the five original charges, which include two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault, relating to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005 involving four women.
The charges follow an investigation by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times, during which several women made allegations against Brand. Prior to publication, Brand denied the claims in a video posted online, asserting that all his relationships were consensual and accusing the media of a “coordinated attack”.
Brand, who presented BBC Radio 2 and Big Brother spin-off shows in the 2000s, was married to pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012. He is now married to Laura Gallacher, with whom he has two children.
