Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault: Allegations, legal proceedings, and victim support options

Comedian and media personality Russell Brand has officially been charged with multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK.

The charges relate to incidents that allegedly occurred between 1999 and 2005, involving four separate women.

Timeline of allegations against Russell Brand

The Metropolitan Police released a detailed summary of the charges, outlining the following timeline:

• 1999 – A woman reported being raped in the Bournemouth area
• 2001 – Another woman reported indecent assault in Westminster, London
• 2004 – A third victim claims she was orally raped and sexually assaulted in Westminster
• 2004–2005 – A fourth woman reported a separate incident of sexual assault, also in Westminster.

These incidents are being treated as non-recent sexual offenses, meaning they occurred more than a decade ago but are being brought forward now due to new evidence and victim testimonies.

Russell Brand responds to the allegations

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Russell Brand addressed the charges directly:

“What I never was, was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

The allegations follow a joint investigation in 2023 by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches, which brought forward multiple testimonies from women who claim to have been assaulted by Brand.

Legal action and court appearance

Russell Brand is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2, 2025. Although he is believed to be currently residing in the United States, UK authorities have indicated that extradition procedures may be initiated if Brand fails to comply voluntarily with the summons.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police emphasised that:

“Specially trained officers continue to support the women who came forward, and our investigation remains ongoing.”

The Crown Prosecution Service reminders

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that the defendant is entitled to a fair trial and that criminal proceedings are active. It is crucial that no online reporting, commentary, or sharing information occur that could jeopardise these proceedings in any manner.

The Met’s investigation is still ongoing, and investigators are urging anyone with information or those impacted by this case to come forward and talk to authorities. A committed group of investigators can be reached by email at CIT@met.police.uk.

Support for Victims of Sexual Assault: How the CICA can help

Victims of violent crime, including sexual assault, may be eligible for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This is a government-backed scheme designed to financially support blameless victims of violent crimes in England, Scotland, and Wales.

What is the CICA?

The CICA is a government-funded authority that aims to compensate blameless victims of an assault or other violent crimes. It was originally formed in 1996 with the sole purpose of providing compensation to blameless victims of violent crime.

The value of compensation that it offers for a single injury can vary from £1,000 up to £250,000, with a maximum total payment of £500,000 being available for a CICA claim.

A physical assault is the most common form of claim that is submitted to the CICA. They can often involve unprovoked attacks, sometimes with the suspect using a weapon to inflict the injuries.

Will I be eligible to claim from the CICA after a criminal assault?

If you have been the victim of a physical assault, then you will have satisfied the first CICA eligibility branch of suffering a ‘crime of violence.’

Usually, the assault must have taken place in the past 2 years, although there are exceptions to this rule, and the assault must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable. For further details on eligibility, please see our in-depth guide on CICA claims.

How long will the CICA take to complete a sexual abuse/assault claim?

The CICA advises that, from the date that they receive an application, it aims to take around twelve-eighteen months to make its initial decision on a claim.

This timescale can vary depending on the circumstances of the assault, the severity of injuries, and the complexity of the overall claim.

There could be many reasons why your claim is taking a while. These could include, but not limited to, the following reasons:

• The police are not responding promptly to the CICA’s requests for information
• The CICA has an extensive workload and many claims to address
• You have delayed in providing any requested evidence to the CICA
• Medical professionals have delayed in providing any requested evidence to the CICA
• You have reviewed or appealed a CICA decision (the average 12–18 month time scale no longer applies after a decision is challenged by an applicant)
• You have impending criminal convictions

Please note, due to the nature of how the CICA work it can often appear that your claim is taking a while when in fact it is within the CICA’s usual timescales. It is important to keep in mind that CICA timescales are not equivalent to day-to-day timescales.

What can I claim?

The CICA pay out compensation for injuries based on their tariff of injuries. You can only receive compensation for 3 injuries from this tariff, and only the highest valued will be paid the full amount. The second and third highest-valued injuries will be paid at 30% and 15% of the tariff amount, respectively.

In addition to this, the CICA can give awards for special expenses that relate to the abuse. They must be reasonable, necessary and a direct result of the crime for which you are claiming.

In order to claim special expenses, you will need to have experienced a loss of earnings for at least 28 full weeks after the incident. There are a range of special expenses that will be backdated; however, if you wish to claim loss of earnings, this will only be paid from the 29th week onwards.

Why should I choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd to make my claim?

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your historical abuse claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny.

If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.

You will have a dedicated advisor who will see your claim through from start to finish, assisting you in the event of any queries or issues you may have. If it is preferable to you, we can assign you one of our female advisors to conduct your claim.

Your case handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.

Further reading

Sexual Abuse/Domestic abuse claims

Historic abuse claims – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.