Russell Brand being investigated over two new rape complaints
Russell Brand has been accused of raping two more women and could now face further criminal charges, it can be revealed.
Brand, now 51, was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009, after a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.
It can now be reported that more women came forward to police after Brand was first accused, and prosecutors are assessing whether to bring further charges.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that investigations are ongoing into two allegations of rape made against Brand.
At pre-trial court hearings, it was revealed that one of the complaints comes from a woman who dated Brand when he was 30 years old and she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
A police spokesperson said: “The Met’s investigation into allegations of rape made by two women remains ongoing.
“The suspect has previously been interviewed under caution in connection with the allegations.
“Files have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to both complainants.
“Detectives remain in close contact with prosecutors as inquiries continue and further investigative work is carried out.”
The spectre of further charges was raised in court hearings in March and May, when Brand’s legal team sought assurances that new charges would not be brought shortly before the trial took place.
“There may be additional complainants in this case,” said defence barrister Ian Winter KC.
“That may have an impact on the argument the defence wishes to run.”
At the May hearing, Mr Justice Bennathan set out that there are two new accusers, and prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC confirmed they “would not seek to join any further complainants to this trial”.
In 2023, Brand was first publicly accused of sexual misconduct with a series of women in reporting by the Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches.
One of his accusers was a woman given the alias ‘Alice’, who alleged she had been mistreated by Brand when she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
In a subsequent interview with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Alice said Brand had called her “The Child” when they were together, when he was 30 years old and a BBC star.
She said: “It was my first sexual experience, I felt used up, I felt cheap, I felt dirtied by the whole thing.”
The woman said her education was derailed in the wake of her relationship with Brand, and she said she developed an eating disorder.
At the time, she publicly accused Brand of sexual misconduct, and claimed she had been ferried around in BBC cars and driven from school to the comedian’s home.
In legal argument in October before Brand’s trial began at Southwark Crown Court, Ms Karmy-Jones KC set out that the allegations are still under investigation.
It was raised as Brand complained about negatively publicity, arguing that he could not have a fair trial.
Ms Karmy-Jones noted that Brand himself had actively raised the Alice allegations by referring to them in a recent interview.
“This was done after Russell Brand had been interviewed in respect of the allegations, but before charge, that being a matter that is still under investigation,” she set out.
In its statement after the trial verdicts, the Met issued an appeal, saying: “Anyone who wishes to speak to detectives or make a report can contact the investigation team by email at CSOU@met.police.uk.
“Reports can also be made by calling 101 from within the UK and quoting reference 2321/04NOV26.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub