Russell Brand faces questioning after woman makes complaint to Metropolitan Police

Metropolitan Police are investigating after a woman came forward over an alleged 2003 sex assault by Russell Brand; tour appearances cancelled.

Russell Brand leaves the Troubabour Wembley Park theatre in north-west London after performing a comedy set. He faces claims about his sexual behaviour at the height of his fame. He has vehemently denied the allegations. Picture James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images

A woman has made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police against the comedian Russell Brand over an alleged sexual assault incident the woman says happened 20 years ago.

This comes as 10 Downing Street, Brand’s father and various charities all made public statements about the controversy surrounding Brand after a lengthy investigation by the Sunday Times accused him of predatory behaviour and sexual offences against four women.

An historic video has also emerged showing Brand joking about having “raped someone once” and then adding: “I killed her after”. The broadcast was a 2013 interview between Brand and Richard Herring at the Leicester Square Theatre.

The woman’s complaint to police, made on Monday, is the first provided to authorities following the bombshell revelations which detailed abuse accusations against Brand, one of Britain’s most well known funnymen.

One of the women said she was 16 and picked up by a BBC company car from school during a three month relationship. Both the BBC and Channel Four are conducting internal investigations about whether any complaints were made about Brand by staff or audience members, and if so, how they were dealt with.

Scotland Yard confirmed it had received a report of an attack alleged to have taken place against a woman in Soho in 2003.

Brand has denied any wrongdoing. He said in a statement on social media that he vehemently denied the “very, very serious criminal allegations” and insisted that his relationships have been consensual.

On Monday promoters of Brand’s current Bipolarisation tour postponed the remaining three shows which were to be held this month.

Tour promoters said in a statement: “We are postponing these few remaining addiction charity fundraiser shows, we don’t like doing it – but we know you’ll understand.”

He has also been dropped from being a contributor to a book of poetry being compiled by Labor’s Jeremy Corbyn and the union boss Len McCluskey.

A drug addiction clinic in Staffordshire, BAC O-Connor has removed Brand as one of its supporters.

The police have called for people to come forward with information.

A police spokesperson said they were aware of reporting by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches about allegations of sexual offences and urged people to come forward. “We continue to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offence, no matter how long ago it was, to contact us.”

Tory MP Caroline Nokes, chair of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, told Times Radio that she wanted “these poor women being brave enough to come forward to the police to make official complaints so that an investigation can be done.”

She said the situation “feels like this is trial by media”, adding: “While there’s absolutely no doubt that we need to shine some sunlight on what has gone on, I think what matters most is that there is a formal police investigation and that if there is good cause, criminal charges be brought.”

Brand’s 80 year old father, Ron Brand lashed out at the media coverage saying the BBC was driving a vendetta against his son.