By Dominic Penna
London: Police investigating sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand have asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider bringing charges against the comedian.
Scotland Yard launched a criminal investigation last year following a complaint from a woman who claimed Brand sexually assaulted her in central London 20 years ago.
Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse.Credit: AP
It later emerged police had questioned Brand in connection with six further alleged historic sex offences. The 49-year-old vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
The Metropolitan Police has forwarded a file to the prosecutors to consider charging Brand.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation at the Met, 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.”
Police have been investigating claims against Brand for 13 months.
The new development, first reported by The Sunday Times, came after it emerged police had questioned Brand under caution on three different occasions.
In a separate statement, police 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.”
The initial investigation by Dispatches and The Sunday Times included accusations of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse spanning seven years.
It is not known how many alleged victims have come forward to the police in total, or when the information about the six allegations made in December came to light.
The boss of Channel 4 apologised to a former employee this year after an internal investigation found it did not investigate a “serious” complaint 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 that 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.
Russell Brand in September 2023 after allegations against him emerged in The Sunday Times and on UK television.Credit: AP
It was claimed last year that Brand exposed himself to a woman before going on air, then 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 after on Radio 2 he laughed with his co-presenter, who said Brand “showed his w---- to a lady”.
Brand has since been axed by agents and publishers and has had his YouTube channel demonetised.
He has continued to post to the Rumble video platform, 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.
The Telegraph, London
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