Russell Brand at court to answer rape and assault charges

Russell Brand has arrived at court for a hearing at which he is expected to enter his plea on charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.

The broadcaster, comedian and actor did not speak to reporters and looked straight ahead as he entered Southwark Crown Court wearing a dark suit and unbuttoned shirt.

He faces one allegation of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two further counts of sexual assault. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1999 and 2005, and relate to four women.

Friday’s one-day plea and trial preparation hearing is being held in advance of a possible trial at a later date.

Mr Brand is accused of oral rape and sexual assault against one of the women in July 2004, and is accused of raping another woman in 1999.

He is also charged with sexually assaulting a woman by grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet in 2001, and with assaulting a different woman by kissing and groping her in 2004 or 2005.

After being charged in April, the 49-year-old released a video saying he was not a rapist and had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.

“I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that,” he told followers at the time.

Mr Brand, who was born in Essex, rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and became a household name as host of TV shows like Big Brother’s Big Mouth, and with his own radio programmes on stations including BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music.

He went on to establish a Hollywood career, starring in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek.