A judge has dropped an indecent assault charge against Russell Brand during his ongoing criminal trial in London, replacing it with a charge of attempted indecent assault relating to the same alleged incident in 2001. The decision came after the judge concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the original charge, but the amended allegation will still be considered by the jury.
Mr Justice Bennathan announced the change at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, October 27. Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to the amended charge and all other allegations against him.
What Is the Amended Charge Against Russell Brand?
The charge concerns an allegation made by a woman who worked for MTV in 2001. She told the court that Brand grabbed her by the arm and tried to pull her into a men’s toilet. According to her account, she had agreed to show him where the toilets were, but his behaviour allegedly changed when they reached the entrance. She said she managed to pull herself away.
The judge concluded that the evidence did not sufficiently support the original indecent assault charge. He directed the jury to return a not-guilty verdict on that count, while adding the attempted indecent assault charge to the indictment.
The distinction matters: Brand has been cleared of the original charge, but the allegation that he attempted the act remains before the court. He denies the allegation.
Russell Brand Denies All Allegations
The trial involves allegations from six women concerning incidents said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009. Brand now faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
During Tuesday’s hearing, jurors also heard statements Brand gave to police in interviews conducted between 2023 and 2025. In one prepared statement, he said: “I have never engaged in any non-consensual sexual activity.”
Brand described himself as having been highly promiscuous in the past, while maintaining that his sexual encounters were consensual. He also criticised media reports and a 2023 Channel 4 documentary that helped bring allegations against him into public view, describing the claims as false.
The allegations were investigated following reporting by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches in September 2023. The women’s allegations are being examined in court, and Brand has denied wrongdoing.
What Happens Next in the Trial?
The prosecution’s case has concluded, and the defence is expected to present its case as proceedings continue on Wednesday, October 28. The jury will ultimately consider the evidence and decide whether the prosecution has proved the charges.
The judge’s decision changes one count in the case, but it does not resolve the wider allegations against Brand. The trial remains ongoing, and no verdict has been reached on the remaining charges.
