Russell Brand pleads not guilty to further sex offence charges including rape
Russell Brand appeared in court to plead guilty to two more sexual offences, including rape.
The 50-year-old comedian arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London wearing an animal-print shirt unbuttoned to the bottom of his chest, a black jacket, a light-coloured fedora hat with the initials “RB” and sunglasses.
He eyed reporters intently as he entered the courtroom, carrying a copy of the Bible whose pages were marked with Post-it notes.
He took off his hat and jacket before standing to confirm his name and plead not guilty to one charge of rape and one charge of sexual assault. New charges related to incidents involving two women, which allegedly occurred in 2009, were announced in December.
Granting Brand bail, Mr Justice Bennathan said: “Mr Brand, I’m sure you heard everything we talked about. I will renew your bail.”
Under bail conditions, the star must notify police of any change of address within 48 hours.
The judge said another case management hearing will be held in March.
Brand had previously denied two charges of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault relating to alleged offenses involving four women between 1999 and 2005.
The court heard that in May, Brand, who lives in Florida but also has an address in Oxfordshire, was accused of raping a woman attending a Labor Party conference in Bournemouth in her hotel room and verbally raping a TV worker after grabbing her breasts and dragging her into the men’s toilet.
He also allegedly grabbed a radio station worker’s face, pushed her against the wall and kissed her before groping her breasts and buttocks.
The actor is also accused of indecently assaulting another woman after grabbing her arm and trying to drag her into the men’s toilet.
A trial on the five original charges is scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court later this year.
Brand made his first appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in January on the new charges.
Former Big Brother’s Big Mouth The presenter attended this hearing via video link from Florida and was wearing a blue denim shirt unbuttoned to the lower part of his chest. He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
