Russell Brand is facing fresh criminal allegations after police confirmed two new charges of rape and sexual assault.
The latest counts add to an already serious list of accusations against the 50-year-old actor and comedian, deepening a case that has been unfolding for more than a year.
What Brand Is Already Accused Of
Before these new developments, Brand had been charged with five offences involving four women.
Those include one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault.
He appeared in court earlier this year and entered not guilty pleas to all five charges.
Two More Women Come Forward
The Metropolitan Police said the latest charges relate to two additional women and concern alleged incidents dating back to 2009.
Officers stressed that the women involved, including those connected to the new accusations, are continuing to receive support from specially trained police teams.
Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi, who is leading the investigation, said detectives remain keen to hear from anyone with information connected to the case.
Court Appearance Expected Next Month
Brand is due to appear before magistrates next month to answer the two new charges.
These allegations sit outside the timeframe of the original case, which focused on claims made by four women about incidents said to have occurred between 1999 and 2005.
Prosecutors Say Evidence Threshold Has Been Met
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that the additional charges were authorised after a careful review of the evidence.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Lionel Idan said prosecutors concluded there was enough material to proceed and that pursuing the case further was in the public interest.
He added that the new counts followed extensive work by Metropolitan Police investigators examining non-recent allegations.
How the Investigation Began
Police began looking into Brand in September 2023 after multiple allegations surfaced publicly.
The claims followed a joint investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times, which detailed accounts from women who said they had been assaulted by the comedian during the height of his media career.
Allegations Spanning Several Years
Among the earlier accusations, Brand is alleged to have raped a woman in a hotel room in 1999 after meeting her at a theatrical event linked to the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
Another woman claims she was raped in 2004 after meeting Brand in a Soho bar, where she says he assaulted her before forcing her into a toilet.
Further allegations include an indecent assault at a television station in 2001 and an assault on a radio station worker during the period when Brand was working on Big Brother’s Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005.
Trial Date Already Set
A four-week trial relating to the original five charges is scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court next summer.
The newly added charges are expected to be addressed separately as the case continues to progress through the courts.
Investigation Still Ongoing
Police have made clear the investigation is active and continuing.
Detectives are urging anyone affected or anyone with relevant information to come forward, as the case against one of Britain’s most high-profile entertainers continues to widen.
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