Russell Brand arrives at Southwark Crown Court as his trial on rape and sexual assault charges begins

The Story

Russell Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, Oct. 12, for the first day of a trial prosecutors say is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.

Brand, 51, was flanked by security guards as he attended court with his wife, Laura Gallacher. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.

The charges relate to allegations involving six women, with the alleged offences said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009. British law protects the identities of victims of alleged sexual violence from media disclosure for life.

Prosecutors previously told the court that Brand is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at a Labour Party conference, grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker.

Brand has remained free on bail ahead of the trial, which begins after years in the public eye that included risque stand-up routines, battles with drugs and alcohol, and roles in film and television, including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek.”