Here’s why it’s taken this long for Russell Brand to go to court for sexual assault allegations

Russell Brand appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on 2nd May for a hearing. He has been accused of indecent assault, sexual assault and rape against four women between 1999 and 2005. Russell Brand has denied these charges. He said on X: “What I never was, was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity… I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

Here’s why he’s going to court for these charges now.

What has Russell Brand been accused of?

He has been charged with raping a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area. Russell Brand has also been accused of sexually assaulting and orally raping a woman in the Westminster area in 20024. He allegedly touched her breasts without consent.

He has been accused of indecently assaulting another woman in 2001 and “grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet”. Russell Grand has also been charged with sexually assaulting a fourth woman between 2004 and 2004 in Westminster.

Why didn’t Russell Brand go to court before now?

Russell Brand hosted Big Brother’s Big Mouth between 2004 and 2006.
(Credit: E4)

The allegations against Russell Brand were first made public in September 2023. The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches reported the sexual assault claims. The journalists spent several years looking into claims about Russell Brand. Because the investigation was carried out by journalists, not the police, these allegations didn’t instantly lead to a trial.

After journalists reported on Russell Brand, the police investigated the claims. They interviewed Russell Brand several times.

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On 4th April 2025, 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, Sunday Times and Times investigation 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.”

What will happen next?

Russell Brand has been granted bail. The judge referred the case to the Crown Court (which is also known as the Old Bailey). He has to attend court on 30th May.

Featured image credit: James Veysey/Shutterstock