Russell Brand says he WILL return to the UK to contest rape and sex assault charges and is 'incredibly grateful' for the opportunity

Comedian and histrion Russell Brand has said helium volition instrumentality to the UK to combat charges of rape and intersexual battle adjacent month, aft helium told fans helium was 'incredibly grateful' for the opportunity.

Taking to societal media connected Friday, Brand denied each the charges against him and said helium was looking guardant to clearing his name, adding the instrumentality was being utilized arsenic a 'weapon' against him. 

The Metropolitan Police person charged Brand, 49, who is understood to beryllium surviving successful the US, by station with 1 number each of rape, indecent battle and oral rape, arsenic good arsenic 2 counts of intersexual assault. 

The charges subordinate to 4 women and are said to person taken spot betwixt 1999 and 2005. 

He is accused of the rape of a pistillate successful 1999 successful the Bournemouth country and the oral rape and intersexual battle of a pistillate successful 2004 successful the Westminster country of London.

He has besides been charged with indecently assaulting a pistillate successful 2001 and sexually assaulting different pistillate betwixt 2004 and 2005 - some offences are alleged to person taken spot successful Westminster, London.

It comes aft the comedian was accused of rape, intersexual assaults and affectional maltreatment by respective women successful a associated probe by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches successful September 2023.

In February, Brand announced that he, his woman Laura Gallacher and their 2 children had moved to Florida successful the US and are present surviving successful a £1.9 cardinal bungalow successful Santa Rosa Bach. 

Since moving to the US, helium has been seen mixing with the affluent and celebrated and was adjacent pictured sharing cigars with Donald Trump Jr. 

After the torrent of allegations against him became public, helium underwent a precise nationalist conversion to Christianity and became ingratiated with President Trump's ellipse of friends. 

Brand attended Trump's inauguration, and was successful February honoured with a 'Global Defender of Freedom' grant astatine a black-tie gala ceremonial successful the ballroom astatine Mar-a-Lago - the 78-year-old billionaire's palatial location successful Palm Beach, Florida.

The lawsuit was hosted by rabid Christian nationalist General Mike Flynn, who was concisely Trump's information advisor and present runs America's Future, a foundation which fights to beforehand 'American values and traditions'.

Since past helium has remained stateside portion continuing to nutrient a weekday podcast for his millions of online followers.

But his caller beingness has travel crashing down with the announcement of the enactment charges against him present successful the UK.

Brand is owed to look astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court connected May 2.

He told fans successful a video connected X past night: 'I was a fool earlier I lived successful the airy of the Lord. I was a cause addict, a enactment addict and an imbecile.

'But what I ne'er was, was a rapist. I person ne'er engaged successful non-consensual enactment - I commune that you tin spot that by looking successful my eyes.'

He continued: 'I’m present going to person the accidental to support these charges successful tribunal and I’m incredibly grateful for that.'

Should Brand for immoderate crushed neglect to amusement astatine tribunal adjacent month, the UK authorities could question his extradition from the US.

This would impact the CPS obtaining an apprehension warrant and the warrant being certified by a judge, earlier the Home Office gives its support and passes the petition to the US.

The determination of whether to judge the petition would past beryllium a substance for the US State Department.

If approved, the determination would beryllium considered successful the US courts earlier the Secretary of State, Trump loyalist Marco Rubio, makes the last call. 

The prima was joined to popular vocalist Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 - past successful 2017 wed Laura Gallacher, the sister of presenter Kirsty, and the brace person 3 children.

Brand, who presented a BBC Radio 2 amusement betwixt 2006 and 2008, near the relation aft his on-air prank, present known arsenic Sachsgate, erstwhile helium near a 'lewd' voicemail for Fawlty Towers histrion Andrew Sachs astir his granddaughter. 

He besides presented connected Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother's Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack.

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said: 'The women who person made reports proceed to person enactment from specially trained officers.

'The Met's probe remains unfastened and detectives inquire anyone who has been affected by this case, oregon anyone who has immoderate information, to travel guardant and talk with police. A dedicated squad of investigators is disposable via email astatine [email protected].

'Support is besides disposable by contacting the autarkic charity, Rape Crisis astatine 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.'

Jaswant Narwal of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'We person contiguous [Friday] authorised the Metropolitan Police to complaint Russell Brand with a fig of intersexual offences.

'We cautiously reviewed the grounds aft a constabulary probe into allegations made pursuing the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary successful September 2023.

'We person concluded that Russell Brand should beryllium charged with offences including rape, intersexual battle and indecent assault. These subordinate to reported non-recent offences betwixt 1999 and 2005, involving 4 women.

'He volition look astatine Westminster Magistrates' Court for a archetypal proceeding connected Friday 2 May 2025. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that transgression proceedings are active, and the suspect has the close to a just trial.

'It is highly important that determination beryllium nary reporting, commentary oregon sharing of accusation online which could successful immoderate mode prejudice these proceedings.'