Russell Brand says he will return to the UK to contest rape, sex assault charges

Comedian and actor Russell Brand has said he will return to the UK to fight charges of rape and sexual assault next month, after he told fans he was 'incredibly grateful' for the opportunity.

Taking to social media on Friday, Brand denied all the charges against him and said he was looking forward to clearing his name, adding the law was being used as a 'weapon' against him.

The Metropolitan Police have charged Brand, 49, who is understood to be living in the US, by post with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault.

The charges relate to four women and are said to have taken place between 1999 and 2005, reports UK's Daily Mail.

He is accused of the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London.

He has also been charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005 - both offences are alleged to have taken place in Westminster, London.

It comes after the comedian was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse by several women in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.

In February, Brand announced that he, his wife Laura Gallacher and their two children had moved to Florida in the US and are now living in a £1.9 (Sh) million bungalow in Santa Rosa Bach.

Since moving to the US, he has been seen mixing with the rich and famous and was even pictured sharing cigars with Donald Trump Jr.

After the torrent of allegations against him became public, he underwent a very public conversion to Christianity and became ingratiated with President Trump's circle of friends.

Brand attended Trump's inauguration, and was in February honoured with a 'Global Defender of Freedom' award at a black-tie gala ceremony in the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago - the 78-year-old billionaire's palatial home in Palm Beach, Florida.

The event was hosted by rabid Christian nationalist General Mike Flynn, who was briefly Trump's security adviser and now runs America's Future, a charity which fights to promote 'American values and traditions'.