Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual offences in England

On 4 April 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service (England and Wales's public prosecution authority) announced that it had authorised criminal charges against the comedian and actor Russell Brand. The charges covered rape, indecent assault and sexual assault, and related to four women. The alleged offences were said to have taken place between 1999 and 2005, when Brand was building his career in British radio and television.

The decision followed a Metropolitan Police investigation. It began after a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme in September 2023 reported allegations of sexual misconduct by Brand. He had consistently denied the claims, saying his relationships in that period had been consensual.

Brand, who had lived in the United States for several years and built a large online following as a commentator, returned to England to face the case. He appeared in court and later pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case moved to Southwark Crown Court in London, where it was set for a jury trial.

The charging decision mattered because it turned allegations that had circulated publicly for more than a year into a formal criminal prosecution, and it brought fresh scrutiny of how such behaviour was treated in the 2000s entertainment industry.