British comedian and actor Russell Brand has appeared at Southwark Crown Court as his trial over alleged sexual offences gets underway. The 51-year-old faces seven charges relating to alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009, comprising three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.
Brand has denied all the charges, entering not guilty pleas during pre-trial proceedings.
The trial, which is expected to run for up to 10 weeks, is scheduled to begin with jury selection on Monday morning. Brand arrived at court wearing a navy suit and sunglasses, accompanied by his wife, Laura. His appearance attracted considerable media attention as proceedings began.
The allegations relate to a period when Brand was building his career in the entertainment industry. He first gained prominence as a stand-up comedian before becoming a familiar face on British television through programmes such as Big Brother’s Big Mouth. He also hosted radio shows on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. He later established a career in Hollywood, featuring in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
In recent years, Brand has focused on podcasting and is reported to be living in Florida, United States. The charges against Brand remain allegations, and the trial will determine the case against him.
