Police ask prosecutors to consider charging Russell Brand over sex assault claims

Detectives looking into past claims of sexual assault involving Russell Brand have requested that prosecutors evaluate the possibility of filing charges against him.

This comes after a collaborative probe by Channel 4's Dispatches and the Sunday Times, released in September 2023. In this investigation, four women alleged that Brand committed various offenses, including rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse.

The accusations trace back to the period between 2006 and 2013, when the 49-year-old was enjoying significant recognition and popularity.

He has rejected any allegations of misconduct and maintains that his sexual relationships have consistently been fully consensual.

After the first news stories emerged, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had "received several reports of sexual offenses in London" as well as in other areas of the country.

On Saturday, it was reported that police had questioned a man in his 40s under caution three different times.

"A compilation of evidence has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for their review," it stated.

When the supposed incidents took place, Brand was employed as a host on BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4, in addition to his acting career in Hollywood, where he featured in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

One woman shared with Dispatches that she began a relationship with Brand when he was 31 years old and she was just 16.

She claimed that their three-month relationship was emotionally abusive and controlling, with Brand often calling her "the child." Another woman accused Brand of raping her in 2012 at his home in Los Angeles, stating that she sought help at a rape crisis center on the same day, according to a report by the Sunday Times.

According to the article, she later sent him a message expressing that she had felt frightened and used. She emphasized, “When a girl says NO, it means no.” In response, Brand allegedly apologized, saying he was "very sorry."

A third woman alleged that Brand attacked her sexually while she was employed with him in Los Angeles. She also claimed that he threatened to pursue legal action if she spoke out about the incident, as reported by the publication.

According to the Sunday Times, a fourth woman has come forward, alleging that she was also a victim of sexual assault by Brand. She described him as having been "physically and emotionally abusive" towards her.

The report mentioned that the women interviewed did not know one another and mostly preferred to keep their identities confidential.

In light of the accusations, the BBC and Channel 4 took down content with Brand from their platforms, and YouTube also prevented him from earning revenue from the videos on his channel.