Russell Brand charged with two further sexual offences, appears via videolink and granted bail
Russell Brand charged with two further sexual offences, appeared by video link from the US, granted bail and will next appear at Southwark Crown Court.
Overview
Russell Brand, 50-year-old actor and comedian, faces two new charges: one count of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to alleged incidents in 2009.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via videolink from Florida, spoke only to confirm identity, and was granted bail ahead of a Southwark Crown Court hearing.
Brand previously denied five charges — including rape, indecent assault and sexual assault — alleging offences from 1999 to 2005 involving four women; a trial for those charges is scheduled.
The fresh charges stem from separate police reports from 2009 after an investigation by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times prompted Metropolitan Police inquiries in 2023.
Brand’s next court appearance is a pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 17 February; a trial relating to earlier charges is due to start later this year.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources generally use legalistic, neutral verbs (accused, alleged, charged) but subtly frame the story by foregrounding Brand’s alleged wrongdoing and visual details. For example, placement of prior denied charges and the description "partially unbuttoned denim shirt" adds salacious color; absence of contextual quotes or defense statements reinforces an indictment-focused narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Russell Brand has been charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to alleged incidents in 2009 involving two additional women.
Brand was previously charged in April 2025 with two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault, relating to offences between 1999 and 2005 involving four women.
Brand appeared via videolink on January 20, 2026, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was granted bail. His next pre-trial hearing is on 17 February 2026 at Southwark Crown Court, with a trial for earlier charges scheduled later in 2026.
The investigation began in September 2023 following a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times detailing allegations from multiple women.
History
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