Russel Brand, who has been charged with multiple sex offences, including rape, has denied being a rapist and said he looks forward to the chance to defend himself in court, as ITV News correspondent Sejal Karia reports

Comedian and actor Russell Brand said he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity” after he was charged with sexual offences, including rape.

The Metropolitan Police have charged Brand, who is understood to be living in the US, by post, with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women, and issued a court summons.

Detectives began an investigation after Brand was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse by several women in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.

In a video on social media on Friday, Brand said: “I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”

He added: “Of course I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

Brand is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London.

He has also been charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005 – both alleged to have taken place in Westminster, London.

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Jaswant Narwal, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “We have today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offences.

“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.”

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from the Metropolitan Police, who is leading the investigation, said the women who made reports will continue receiving support from specially trained officers.

He added that anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.

Brand will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 2.

If you’ve been personally affected by this story find help at:

Rape Crisis, Call: 0808 500 2222

The Survivors Trust, Call: 0808 801 0818, Text: 07860 022956

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