A court has heard the case of comedian and actor Russell Brand, who is alleged to have raped a woman in a hotel room while she was attending a Labour Party conference.
It is reported that after a theatre performance in Bournemouth in 1999, when the woman went to the toilet, Brand removed some of his clothes, then pushed her onto a bed, removed her underwear and raped her.
The 49-year-old was granted bail at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday after he confirmed his name, date of birth and address during a brief hearing and said he understood the bail conditions.
Last month, he was charged by mail with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault against four separate women.
Dressed in an unbuttoned shirt and jeans, Brand listened intently to the details of the charges from the dock.
The court heard evidence from another alleged Brand victim who accused him of indecent assault. She said the actor grabbed her by the forearm in 2001 while trying to force her into the men's room at a television station.
The court heard the third alleged victim was a TV worker Brand met in Soho in 2004.
She is accused of grabbing her breasts and then allegedly dragging her into a toilet and orally raping her.
The court heard evidence from the final plaintiff, a radio worker who met Brand when he worked on Channel 4's Big Brother's Big Mouth in 2004-05.
Brand allegedly grabbed her face with both hands, pushed her against the wall and kissed her, then grabbed her breasts and buttocks.
It took the comedian more than two minutes to walk the short distance from his car to the court doors, as photographers scrambled to capture his arrival after returning to the UK from the US.
He did not speak to reporters as he entered or left the courthouse.
The allegations followed a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023, during which several women accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse.
In a previously posted video on his X account, Brand said he was glad to have the opportunity to prove his innocence.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
