RUSSELL BRAND TRIAL: PROSECUTION OPENS RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE AT SOUTHWARK CROWN COURT

London — The prosecution opened its case against Russell Brand on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Southwark Crown Court in London, telling the jury that the actor and comedian faces seven criminal charges involving six women, with the alleged offences dating from 1999 to 2009, according to reports.

Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges — three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault — and remains on bail, according to reports. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Trial

• Venue: Southwark Crown Court, London — not the Old Bailey.
• Judge: Judge Joel Bennathan is presiding.
• Charges: Three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, involving six women who, according to the prosecution, do not know each other. The alleged offences span 1999 to 2009.
• Plea: Not guilty to all charges; Brand is on bail. The plea was entered in February 2026, as reported by Parade.
• Expected length: Estimates differ — the Associated Press reports the trial could run up to 10 weeks, while The Times and Parade put it at approximately six weeks. The timing of any verdict is unknown.

What Happened This Week

Jury selection began on Monday, October 12, with Judge Bennathan screening potential jurors over the 2023 Channel 4/Times documentary, and the panel was sworn in on Tuesday, October 13, according to reports.

On Wednesday, October 14, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones opened the prosecution's case. According to reports, she told the jury that Brand had an "indiscriminate and voracious" desire and that "women were simply a means to an end." Per the Associated Press, she added: "He was ruthless, he was calculating, he was manipulative. And, the prosecution say, he was a sexual predator."

The prosecution said the alleged assaults took place "in a hotel room, workplaces, a toilet cubicle in a bar and at (Brand's) home address," according to the AP.

Brand arrived at court with his wife, Laura Gallacher. Speaking to reporters, he said, per the AP and The Times: "I feel blessed. I feel, of course, concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved. That's my prayer."

According to the prosecution, as reported by the BBC, Brand told police he had never engaged in non-consensual activity, and that the women's accounts had been "reinvented or imagined after a defamatory documentary."

Background

Brand rose to fame in the early 2000s, according to reports:

• He began on BBC radio before moving into television presenting with MTV and Channel 4.
• He broke into Hollywood with film roles including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
• He was married to singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 — read our Katy Perry biography for her full career story.
• He now lives in Florida and has built a large online following in recent years.

Watch

No official video available — this story is covered through the attributed reporting in this article.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What charges does Russell Brand face?
A: Seven charges — three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault — involving six women, with alleged offences from 1999 to 2009, according to reports.

Q: Where is the trial taking place?
A: At Southwark Crown Court in London, before Judge Joel Bennathan.

Q: Has Brand pleaded guilty or not guilty?
A: He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains on bail. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Q: How long will the trial last?
A: Estimates differ — the AP reports up to 10 weeks, while The Times and Parade estimate approximately six weeks. The timing of any verdict is unknown.