British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with two additional sex offenses, UK police confirmed Tuesday. The new charges include one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
“The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” UK’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
“The Met’s investigation remains ongoing, and detectives urge anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with police.”
Brand is already facing five charges that was announced in April which involved four women, including two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault.
The actor is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on January 20 in connection with the newly filed charges.
Brand previously pleaded not guilty to the original charges and addressed the allegations in an Instagram video in May, saying he was “grateful” for the “opportunity” to defend himself.
“I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist,” Brand said. “I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity.”
Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi reiterated that the women who have come forward “continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” and again urged “anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward” as the investigation continues.
Brand has also been accused in a separate civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting a film extra on the New York City set of the 2011 movie Arthur.
