Russell Brand denies non‑consensual sex as trial hears his past was ‘reframed’
The comedian told Southwark Crown Court his celebrity lifestyle has been mischaracterised, while six women continue to accuse him of offences dating from 1999 to 2009.
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At Southwark Crown Court, the former comedian told magistrates that his history of public affection and casual sex has been turned into accusations of rape and sexual assault. He rejected every allegation and maintained that any contact was consensual. The hearing forms part of a trial that began earlier this year and will continue over several weeks.
Background to the case
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Brand is charged with three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. An additional allegation of indecent assault was re‑classified as attempted indecent assault during the proceedings. Six women have given evidence, describing incidents that span a decade from 1999 to 2009. The earliest claim relates to a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, the latest to a fan encounter after a Hammersmith Apollo show.
Brand’s statements to police
Detectives questioned Brand on four occasions between November 2023 and July 2025, following a joint investigation by Channel 4, The Times and The Sunday Times. In each interview he read prepared remarks in which he said he had “never engaged in any non‑consensual sexual activity”. He described a “very promiscuous” lifestyle that involved kissing hundreds of fans in public, having sex in toilet cubicles and ending encounters shortly after they finished.
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“I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I have spent years openly denouncing,”
Russell Brand, defendant
Brand added that media reports and police appeals had encouraged further claims, which he said led to “invented or reimagined” encounters. He told officers that some of the women might have been part of consensual contacts that were later portrayed differently.
Legal developments
During the trial, the court recorded a change to one of the charges: an allegation of indecent assault was amended to attempted indecent assault. Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, argued that the accusations stem from misinterpretations of past behaviour and that the defendant remains not guilty of any non‑consensual act.
What residents should know
The case is being heard in the City of London, but the outcome may influence public discussions about celebrity conduct and media reporting across Greater London. No verdict has been reached, and the jury will continue to hear evidence over the coming weeks. Anyone interested in the trial can follow updates from Southwark Crown Court or the BBC’s court coverage.
The next formal step is the jury’s deliberation, after which a verdict will be announced. If found guilty, Brand could face a custodial sentence; if acquitted, the charges will be dismissed. Until then, the court proceedings remain open to the public.
Questions this report answers
+What charges is Russell Brand facing?
Brand is charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one charge of attempted indecent assault. The charges relate to alleged incidents involving six women between 1999 and 2009. He has pleaded not guilty to each count.
+How many times was he interviewed by police?
Detectives spoke to Brand on four separate occasions from November 2023 to July 2025. In each interview he read statements denying any non‑consensual activity and describing his past as a series of consensual encounters.
+What did Brand say about his past behaviour?
Brand told police he led a “very promiscuous” life, involving public kisses, sex in toilets and brief encounters that he described as consensual and warm. He said media reports had reframed these actions as rape and sexual assault.
+When did the alleged offences occur?
The six women who testified said the alleged incidents took place over a ten‑year span from 1999 to 2009. The earliest claim concerns a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, while the latest involves a fan after a 2009 stand‑up performance.
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