Russell Brand has appeared in court to deny two further sexual offences, including rape.
The comedian, aged 50, arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London wearing an animal-print shirt, unbuttoned to his lower chest, a black jacket, a light-coloured fedora hat monogrammed with the initials “RB”, and sunglasses.
He stared intently at journalists as he walked into the courtroom, where he entered the dock carrying a copy of the Bible whose pages were marked with Post-it notes.
He took off his hat and jacket before standing to confirm his name and enter not guilty pleas to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The fresh charges, which relate to incidents that allegedly took place in 2009 and involve two women, were announced in December.
Releasing Brand on bail, judge Mr Justice Bennathan said: “Mr Brand, I am sure you have heard everything we have been talking about. I will renew your bail.”
Under his bail conditions, the star is required to notify the police of any change of address within 48 hours.
The judge said there would be a further case-management hearing in March.
Brand has previously denied two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault in relation to alleged offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.
Brand, who lives in Florida but also has an address in Oxfordshire, is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, and of grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a men’s toilet, the court heard in May.
He is also alleged to have grabbed a radio station worker’s face, pushing her against a wall and kissing her before groping her breasts and buttocks.
The actor is also accused of indecently assaulting another woman after grabbing her forearm and attempting to drag her into a men’s toilet.
A trial is scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court later this year in relation to the five original charges.
Brand first appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in January over the fresh charges.
The former Big Brother’s Big Mouth presenter attended that hearing via video link from Florida, wearing a blue denim shirt unbuttoned to his lower chest. He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
