Russell Brand appears in UK court charged with further sexual offences

"Russell Brand has appeared in a UK court via video link from the US 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. The two alleged offences took place in 2009. Brand previously denied two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault in relation to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women."

"Wearing a partly unbuttoned blue denim shirt, Brand spoke only to confirm to his name and date of birth. The chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring, said: Mr Brand, one of the charges you face is what we call indictable only which means it can only be tried at crown court. Brand was granted bail to appear at Southwark crown court in London on 17 February for a pre-trial preparation hearing."

"Brand was charged after an investigation by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times in which several women made allegations against him. The night before publication, Brand denied the claims in a video posted online, stating that all of his relationships had been consensual, and accused the media of a coordinated attack. The comedian presented a BBC Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008 and the Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother's Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack in the 00s."

Russell Brand faces two further sexual offence charges, including rape, relating to alleged incidents in 2009. He previously denied multiple counts of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault relating to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005. Brand appeared at Westminster magistrates court via video link from Florida and confirmed only his name and date of birth. A magistrate described one charge as indictable only, meaning it must go to crown court. Brand was granted bail and must appear at Southwark crown court on 17 February for a pre-trial preparation hearing. He was charged after investigations by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times, and he denied the allegations in an online video asserting consensual relationships. Brand’s past presenting roles and personal relationships, including marriages to Katy Perry and Laura Gallacher and two children, were noted.

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