Russell Brand charged with two new counts of rape and sexual assault

Russell Brand has been charged with two new counts of rape and sexual assault, police confirmed tonight.

The actor and comedian, 50, is already facing one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

He appeared in court in May and pleaded not guilty to these five counts.

The new charges relate to two additional women, the Metropolitan Police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi from the Metropolitan Police who is leading the investigation said: 'The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

'The Met's investigation remains ongoing, and detectives urge anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with police.'

He is due to appear before magistrates next month over the two new charges, which relate to incidents alleged to have happened in 2009.

Lionel Idan, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS, said: 'These new charges relate to separate reports of non-recent offences in 2009, involving two additional women.

'These additional charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

'Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring these additional charges to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue further criminal proceedings.'

Detectives began investigating in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, which followed reporting by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Sunday Times.

The original incidents, alleged by four women, are said to have occurred between 1999 and 2005.

The presenter is accused of raping a woman in a hotel in 1999 after they met that day at a theatrical event following the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

Brand is also alleged to have raped a woman working in television whom he met in a Soho bar in 2004.

He is accused of grabbing her breasts before pulling the victim into a toilet and forcing her to perform a sex act.

Another woman claims she was indecently assaulted by Brand, who grabbed her arm and attempted to drag her into a male lavatory at a television station in 2001.

Brand was working for Channel 4 on Big Brother's Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005 when he is said to have carried out the final assault on a radio station worker.

A four-week trial is scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court next summer in relation to the five original charges.