Police have been investigating accusations against Russell Brand for 13 months, although no arrests have been made. Photo / Getty Images
Police have been investigating accusations against Russell Brand for 13 months, although no arrests have been made. Photo / Getty Images
Warning: This article discusses sexual assault which may be distressing to some readers.
In 2023, a criminal investigation was launched into the comedian after a woman made allegations dating back 20 years.
Police investigating sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand in Britain have asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider bringing charges against the comedian.
It later emerged that Brand had also been questioned by police in connection with six further alleged historic sex offences. The 49-year-old vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the inquiry at the Metropolitan Police, said: “Our investigation continues and a file has now been passed to the CPS.
“We have a team of dedicated officers providing specialist support to the women who have come forward. We are committed to investigating sexual offences, no matter how long ago they are alleged to have taken place.”
Russell Brand is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman in Soho in 2003, with the complaint launching a criminal investigation into the 49-year-old last year. Photo / Instagram
Police have been investigating accusations against Brand for 13 months, although no arrests have been made.
Brand has denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as a serious and concerted agenda to silence him.
The new development, which was first reported by the Sunday Times, came after it emerged Brand had been questioned by police under caution on three different occasions.
In a separate statement, the Met said: “Following an investigation by the Sunday Times and Channel 4′s Dispatches in 2023, the Met received a number of reports of sexual offences from women in London and elsewhere in the country.
“As part of the investigation, a man in his 40s has been interviewed by officers under caution on three separate occasions.”
It is not known how many alleged victims have come forward to the police in total, or when the information about the six allegations that were made last December first came to light.
The boss of Channel 4 apologised to a former employee earlier this year after an internal investigation found it did not investigate a “serious” complaint made against Brand in 2009.
A separate probe by Banijay UK, a production company, found informal concerns flagged about Brand during his time at Channel 4 were “not properly escalated”.
An investigation said managers had been alerted to allegations he asked staff to get the phone numbers of audience members, although no formal complaints were made.
There were also claims his behaviour had made female crew members feel intimidated and uncomfortable.
The BBC is investigating complaints about Brand’s alleged behaviour during his time working for the corporation.
Bosses at the broadcaster ordered a thorough review to establish what was known about his alleged actions amid claims that at least one senior executive brushed complaints under the carpet.
Police have now handed over a file to prosecutors to consider a charging decision in Russell Brand’s case. Photo / Instagram
It was claimed last year that Brand exposed himself to a woman before going on air before laughing about it during his BBC radio show.
The alleged victim said that she was stunned after the encounter in Los Angeles in June 2008 and that shortly afterwards on Radio 2 he laughed with his co-presenter who said Brand “showed his w**** to a lady”.
Brand has since been axed by a number of agents and publishers as well as having his YouTube channel demonetised.
He has continued to post to Rumble, which “emphatically” refused demands from MPs to suspend his ability to make money.
Brand, who has insisted that all of his sexual relationships have been consensual, was contacted for comment.
Responding to the accusations made against him in September 2023, he said they were “astonishing”, “rather baroque” and part of a “serious and concerted agenda to silence” him.
