Ex-comic faces rape and sexual assault charges

Russell Brand has been granted bail over the charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault he faces.

The former comedian flew into London from his US home yesterday for his appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

The 49-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood his bail conditions

He will now appear at the Old Bailey on May 30.

Now a social media broadcaster, Brand faces one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

He battled through a phalanx of photographers and reporters on his way into and out of court this morning, dressed in a black open shirt and sunglasses.  He did not speak to any of the media.

The case follows allegations made in the Times newspapers and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023. 

Brand – who has since declared himself a born-again Christian – said in a video posted to his 11.3million X followers: ‘I know that I’m a broken sinner and a wretched hopeless individual but I know I’m innocent, so an examination, a thorough and intrepid examination, will establish that innocence in the eyes of everybody. 

'I welcome it, what a relief it will be - I’m going to my country right now.’

He is accused of raping a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area; indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 by 'grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet’, and  a sexual assault between 2004 and 2005 in Westminster.

Brand, of Hambleden in Buckinghamshire,  is also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Westminster, London, in 2004, by touching her breasts without her consent, and with orally raping the same woman also in 2004.

When the charges were first announced, Jaswant Narwal, of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023. We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.

'These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women... The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.' 

Published: 2 May 2025