London's Metropolitan Police on Friday said it had charged comedian and actor Russell Brand with rape and a number of other sexual offences, reported AFP.
Brand, who became known internationally as the former husband of pop star Katy Perry after forging a career as a stand-up comedian with risque routines, was also charged with one count each of rape, indecent assault, and oral rape as well as two counts of sexual assault, the force said.
"We have today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offences," said Jaswant Narwal, of the Crown Prosecution Service.
"We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary 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."
Met Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said the investigation remained open.
He urged "anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police".
Brand is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area on England's south coast, and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the central Westminster area of London.
He has also been charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005 – both alleged to have taken place in Westminster.
As per Sky News, Brand has denied the accusations and said he has "never engaged in non-consensual activity".
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