Police investigating Russell Brand sex assault claims ask CPS to consider charges
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 she was sexually assaulted by Brand in central London 20 years ago.
It later emerged Brand had also been questioned by police in connection with six further alleged historic sex offences. The 49-year-old vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
The Telegraph understands that the CPS has now been passed a file by the Met to consider a charging decision in Brand’s case.
It is also understood that Brand has been interviewed by police on three separate occasions.
Det Supt Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the enquiry 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.”
Police have been investigating accusations against Brand for 13 months, although no arrests have been made.
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 Metropolitan 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 forties has been interviewed by officers under caution on three separate occasions.”
The initial investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times included accusations of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse in a period 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 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.
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 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 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”.