Russell Brand’s criminal trial begins in London over rape and sexual assault charges

Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to seven sexual offence charges in the UK with his trial at Southwark Crown Court

British comedian and former actor Russell Brand has arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London as his criminal trial begins over seven sexual offence charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges were brought by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service in April and December 2025, following a Metropolitan Police investigation.

The first set of charges relates to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005 involving four women. The additional charges concern two further women and relate to alleged incidents in 2009.

Brand arrived at court on Monday wearing a grey suit and sunglasses, accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher, whom he married in 2017. The trial is expected to last up to two months, with a jury of 12 set to determine the outcome. Brand remains on bail.

Jury selection is expected to take place at the start of proceedings, with opening statements from the prosecution and defence tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.

Brand rose to prominence in the mid-2000s as a comedian and actor, presenting television programmes including Big Brother’s Big Mouth and appearing in Hollywood films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. In recent years, he has shifted towards podcasting and online content creation.

In September 2023, The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches published allegations of sexual assault, rape and emotional abuse against Brand following a joint investigation. Brand strongly denied the allegations.

The investigation prompted a police inquiry, which ultimately led to the criminal charges. The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges followed a review of evidence gathered by police.

The CPS has also emphasised that criminal proceedings are active and that Brand is entitled to a fair trial. The charges remain allegations, and the jury will determine the case based on the evidence presented in court.