Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been formally charged with three offences of sexual assault, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed. The charges relate to one alleged victim and incidents said to have occurred in central London in 2003.
CPS Authorises Charges Following Police Investigation
The CPS announced on Tuesday that it had authorised Thames Valley Police to charge the 48-year-old. This decision follows a comprehensive investigation by the police force. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, stated that the charges relate to three separate incidents.
"Russell Brand has been charged with three counts of sexual assault," Ainslie confirmed. "The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Brand are active and that he has a right to a fair trial."
Details of the Allegations and Brand's Response
The specific allegations state that the assaults took place in the Soho area of London in July 2003. The CPS emphasised that the decision to charge was made after its prosecutors applied the Code for Crown Prosecutors, ensuring there was sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution was in the public interest.
Brand is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court at a future date. These new charges are separate from the serious allegations made against Brand in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and a joint investigation by The Times and Sunday Times in September 2023. Those reports featured multiple women making allegations of sexual assault, rape, and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, claims which Brand has vehemently denied.
Following the media reports last year, the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation, encouraging potential victims to come forward. That investigation remains ongoing. Brand has consistently denied all previous allegations, characterising them as part of a coordinated media attack.
Legal Process and Broader Context
The charging of a high-profile figure like Russell Brand marks a significant development in a case that has attracted intense public and media scrutiny for nearly a year. It underscores the legal process that follows police investigations into historical sexual offences.
The CPS has issued the standard warning regarding active proceedings, urging the public and media to avoid commentary that could prejudice the defendant's right to a fair trial. The case will now proceed through the magistrates' court before potentially moving to a crown court.
This development occurs amidst a wider cultural and legal focus on allegations of sexual misconduct within the entertainment industry and other sectors. The outcome of the judicial process will be closely watched, given the gravity of the charges and the prominent status of the accused.
