The Metropolitan Police have charged comedian and YouTuber Russell Brand with rape and two counts of sexual assault, which allegedly took place between 1999 and 2005.

The Met say the 50-year-old, of Oxfordshire, has been charged with five counts in relation to four women. These are:

• One count of rape
• One count of indecent assault
• One count of oral rape
• Two counts of sexual assault

The force state Brand is alleged to have raped a woman in the Bournemouth area in 1999 and orally raped and sexually assaulted a woman in Westminster in 2004.

Also in Westminster, Brand is alleged to have indecently assaulted a woman in 2001 and between 2004 and 2005 sexually assaulted a woman.

Detectives with the Metropolitan Police began investigating Brand in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations following a documentary into Brand by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times, in which Brand was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse over a seven-year period, by four women.  

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from the Metropolitan Police – who is leading the investigation – said: “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at CIT@met.police.uk.”

Jaswant Narwal of the Crown Prosecution Service said, as quoted by the BBC, that the CPS authorised the Met to charge Brand with several sexual offences after it “carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023”.

Narwal said: “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.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Russell Brand will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday (2 May).

In the past, Brand has denied the allegations against him.

This is a breaking news story.

Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of sexual violence. If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.

Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.

The post Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.