'Now the first alleged victims have spoken out it could finally empower other women to make a complaint

RAPE and sexual assault claims by four women against Russell Brand may be "the tip of the iceberg", TV experts believe

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Police yesterday urged any other women with complaints to step forward after the comedian was accused of being a serial sex offender in a joint investigation carried out by TV's Dispatches, the Sunday Times and The Times.

Brand, 48, strenuously denies all the allegations made against him. He insists the many relationships from his time as a self-confessed sex addict were "consensual".

But former colleagues have laid bare his alleged predatory behaviour at Channel 4, the BBC and in Hollywood with Brand's attitude to women said to be an "open secret in radio and TV production".

The Daily Express understands high-profile women who have been involved with Brand are considering speaking out and the comedy circuit is awash with talk of his behaviour. One senior TV insider said: "There have been so many rumours about this man's behaviour and attitude towards women that it felt inevitable the lid would be lifted at some stage.

"It has been a case of very many influential people turning a blind eye, but now that the first alleged victims have spoken out it could finally empower other women to make a complaint. We saw with Jimmy Savile how a small number of brave victims quickly became an avalanche of complaints. These four women could be just the tip of the iceberg for Brand."

The Met Police yesterday confirmed it was "aware" of the accusations and encouraged any alleged victims to speak out. Meanwhile advisers, charities and associates began to abandon Brand.

Urgently