Russell Brand pleads not guilty to sexual offence charges at Southwark Crown Court

Russell Brand, the British comedian and actor, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London in the early summer of 2025 and pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. They included rape and sexual assault, and related to allegations made by four women.

The Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether to bring criminal cases in England and Wales, had authorised the charges in April 2025. The alleged offences were said to have taken place between 1999 and 2005, when Brand was working in radio, television and film. The case followed a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme, published in 2023, after which the Metropolitan Police began their own inquiry.

The hearing was short and procedural. Brand, who lives in the United States, had travelled to London to attend in person. The judge set a trial date in 2026, which meant the case would hang over him for more than a year. Brand has consistently denied any non-consensual sexual activity. The plea set up the trial that later became the centre of this story.