Brand in dock to deny rape and charges of sexual assault

RUSSELL Brand denied charges of rape and sexual assault as he appeared in court yesterday.

- By Josh Payne and George Lithgow

The 49-year-old podcaster is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

He is also alleged to have grabbed a TV worker’s breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a male toilet. Brand is further accused of grabbing a radio station employee’s face, pushing her against a wall and groping her breasts and buttocks after kissing her.

Trial

The final charge alleges he indecently assaulted another woman after grabbing her forearm and attempting to drag her into a male toilet.