Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against four women
Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of multiple alleged sex attacks, including an alleged rape at the Labour Party conference.
The US-based comedian has denied the allegations of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court today.
The incidents, alleged by four women, are said to occurred between 1999 and 2005.
He will stand trial over the charges next year, with a trial beginning June 3 2026 that is set to last four to five weeks.
The star wore an open black and white pinstripe shirt and several pendants, including two crosses, as he walked into the court ahead of his plea hearing this morning. He was clutching a prayer book called The Valley of Vision in his right hand.
The presenter is accused of raping a woman in a hotel in 1999 after they met that day at a theatrical event following the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
Brand is also alleged to have raped a woman working in television whom he met in a Soho bar in 2004.
He is accused of grabbing her breasts before pulling the victim into a toilet and forcing her to perform a sex act.
Another woman claims she was indecently assaulted by Brand, who grabbed her arm and attempted to drag her into a male lavatory at a television station in 2001.
Brand was working for Channel 4 on Big Brother's Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005 when he is said to have carried out the final assault on a radio station worker.
The comedian arrived at the court shortly before 10am in a black Mercedes Benz, with a media scrum of photographers and broadcasters capturing his every move.
He said nothing to the photographers and journalists gathered outside the court as he emerged from the car, some of whom called out his name.
And he looked straight ahead as he walked up the steps inside, alongside lawyer Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky.
Mr Schneider-Sikorsky successfully defended Kevin Spacey against sex assault allegations in 2023.
Brand was flanked by two court officers in the dock as Judge Tony Baumgartner reminded the court that the four complainants in this case have automatic lifelong anonymity as the alleged victims of sexual offences.
After confirming his identity, the Florida-based star stood with his hands clasped behind his back as he loudly responded 'not guilty' to each charge read to him.
Before ending the hearing, Judge Tony Baumgartner reminded Brand that any failure to attend his scheduled trial could result in custody or be deemed a separate offence.
Brand remains on bail with conditions to provide his UK and US addresses to the court and to notify the court of any change in address.
Once the ten minute hearing had concluded, Brand slowly reached down for his sunglasses and placed them back over his eyes.
The door to the dock was opened for him and he stared straight ahead as he walked slowly past the packed press bench.
The court had previously heard that some of the alleged victims will give evidence behind a screen.
Brand then left court around half an hour after the hearing ended - walking to the waiting Mercedes without saying a word to reporters and members of the public who called out to him.
One was heard to ask: 'Russell, what do you think of the court case?'
The charges came following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme in September 2023 in which several women accused him of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse, which he denied.
When he was charged, Brand addressed his 11.3million followers on X saying he was 'never a rapist'.
The married father-of-three, was once one of the most popular comedy stars on Channel 4.
In recent years, has reinvented himself as an anti-woke political podcaster amassing millions of online followers on the alternative video platform Rumble.
He has also converted to Christianity, and was seen being baptised in the River Thames by TV presenter and adventurer Bear Grylls.
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