Russell Brand pleads not guilty to two more sexual offences

Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two further sexual offences, including rape.The 50-year-old comedian was charged in December with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault in relation to two women. The two alleged offences took place in 2009.Brand 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.He appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday morning for a plea and trial preparation hearing in relation to the fresh charges.Brand entered the glass-fronted dock in a partially unbuttoned tiger-print shirt, dangling necklaces and a light-coloured monogrammed fedora hat, while holding a copy of the Bible with colourful post-it notes. He removed his hat and had his Bible taken away by the dock officer before the hearing started.Brand spoke to confirm his name and his not guilty pleas from the dock during the brief hearing.Judge Baumgartner said there would be a further case management hearing in March.He told Brand: “Mr Brand I’m sure you’ve heard everything we’ve been talking about. I will renew your bail.”The judge reminded Brand of his bail conditions and asked him if he understood, to which Brand replied: “Yes, your lordship.”Brand put on his sunglasses and clutched his Bible as he left the courtroom with his legal team and four men who had been sitting in the public gallery.He is due to stand trial later this year in relation to the five original charges.Brand was charged after an investigation by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times in which several women made allegations against him. The night before publication, Brand denied the claims in a video posted online, stating that all of his relationships had been consensual, and accused the media of a “coordinated attack”.The comedian presented a BBC Radio 2 show between 2006 and 2008 and the Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack in the 00s.He was married to the US pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012. He is now married to Laura Gallacher, the sister of the TV presenter Kirsty, and the pair have three children.