Russell Brand ‘raped a woman after Labour Party conference', court hears
Russell Brand raped a woman in a hotel room during a Labour Party conference, a court was told.
The allegation was heard on Friday at Westminster magistrates' court where the 49-year-old appeared charged with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault.
During a 12-minute long hearing, the court was told he raped the alleged victim in a hotel room after meeting her at a theatrical event following the party's conference in Bournemouth in 1999.
It is alleged that while the woman went to the bathroom, Brand removed some of his clothing and later pushed her onto the bed, removed her underwear and raped her.
The court heard another of Brand's alleged victims, who accuses him of indecent assault, alleges the comedian grabbed her by the forearm while attempting to drag her into a male toilet at a television station in 2001.
The court heard the third alleged victim was a television worker Brand met in Soho in 2004. He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and orally raping her.
The final alleged victim is a radio station worker who met Brand while he was working for Channel 4 on Big Brother's Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005, the court heard. Brand is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks.
Brand has been granted bail ahead of the next hearing at the Old Bailey on May 30.
Members of the press had been camping outside of the court since 6am waiting for Brand.
He arrived in a car just before 9.30am and took almost two minutes to reach the front doors of the court building as he walked slowly through the scrum of press photographers and journalists.
Inside courtroom one, which was also packed with press, he again walked slowly into the glass-panelled dock.
Dressed in a black shirt and black jeans, Brand held his sunglasses behind his back as he spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth and listened intently as the charges were read out.
After Paul Goldspring, the chief magistrate, granted him bail, Brand nodded to show he understood and thanked the judge before leaving court.
Walking out, he was flanked by his solicitor Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky.
Mr Schneider-Sikorsky successfully defended Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actor, against sex assault allegations in 2023.
Spacey was found not guilty of nine sexual offences against four complainants between 2001 and 2013 following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Russell Brand has been accused of raping a woman in a hotel room following a Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth.
'My innocence is indefatigable', he added.
Thank you for following our updates from Russell Brand's appearance at Westminster magistrates' court this morning.
The comedian has been granted bail ahead of the next hearing at the Old Bailey on May 30.
He is charged with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.
Walking in and out of court, Russell Brand was flanked by his solicitor Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky.
Schneider-Sikorsky successfully defended Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actor, against sex assault allegations in 2023.
Spacey was found not guilty of nine sexual offences against four complainants between 2001 and 2013 following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Members of the press had been camped outside of Westminster magistrates' court since 6am waiting for Brand to arrive.
Walking from the car to the entrance of the court took Brand almost two minutes as he walked slowly through the scrum of press photographers.
Entering courtroom one, he again walked slowly into the glass panelled dock looking straight ahead.
He spoke equally slowly when asked to give his name, address and date of birth. As the charges were laid out in detail he listened intently throughout the short 12-minute long hearing.
Leaving the court he was escorted by three bodyguards and was ushered straight into a waiting car.
Credit: Reuters
The court heard that Brand raped a woman in a hotel room in 1999 after they met earlier that day at a theatrical event.
It was also told that Brand attacked a second complainant while she was working at a TV company in 2001.
The court also heard that third alleged victim, who also worked at a TV company, was raped and sexually assaulted by Brand at a party in Soho in 2004
Brand did not enter any pleas to the charges.
To recap, he is charged with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault.
Mr Goldspring, the chief magistrate, granted Brand bail following the brief 12-minute long hearing and told him that his next court appearance would be at the Old Bailey on May 30.
Brand nodded to show he understood and thanked the judge before leaving court.
He was accompanied to the court by his solicitor, Oliver Schneider- Sikorsky, who successfully defended Kevin Spacey against sex assault allegations in 2023.
Dressed in a black shirt and black jeans, Brand walked slowly into the dock and spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
Holding his sunglasses behind his back, he confirmed he lived at an address in Buckinghamshire.
Brand listened intently as the charges were read out.
Just before 9.30am, Russell Brand's car pulled up outside Westminster magistrates' court on Marylebone Road.
Photographers, who had been waiting outside since 6am, surrounded the vehicle and police officers were forced to hold them back as they attempted to get a shot of his arrival.
It took the comedian more than two minutes to walk the short distance from his vehicle to the court door.
Brand is represented in court by Ian Winter KC while Suki Dhadda is acting for the prosecution.
Courtroom one is packed with around a dozen members of the press and the public gallery is entirely full.
The case will be heard by chief magistrate Paul Goldspring. It is due to get underway at 10am.
Credit: Reuters
The 49-year-old was charged by post last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.
The charges came following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023 in which several women accused him of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.
Brand presented a BBC Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008.
He left the role after his on-air prank, now known as Sachsgate, when he left a 'lewd' voicemail for Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter.
He also presented on Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother's Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack in the noughties.
The TV and film star was married to US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 but is now married to Laura Gallacher, the sister of presenter Kirsty, and the pair have two children, Mabel and Peggy.
Brand did not speak to reporters as he walked into Westminster magistrates' court wearing sunglasses on Friday morning.
Wearing a navy suit and an open shirt he entered the court building surrounded by a number of bodyguards.
Members of the press had been queuing outside court from 6am to get a space in the courtroom.
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