MEDIA pundit and former TV presenter Russell Brand allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room when she attended a Labour Party conference, a court heard today.

Brand listened intently in the dock as it was alleged that he attacked her following a theatrical event in Bournemouth in 1999.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that he removed some of his clothing while she went to the bathroom and later pushed her onto the bed, removed her underwear and raped her.

Another of Brand’s alleged victims, who accuses him of indecent assault, is said to have been grabbed by her forearm by the actor as he attempted to drag her into a male toilet at a television station in 2001.

The court heard the third alleged victim was a television worker Brand met in Soho in 2004. He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet and orally raping her.

The final complainant is a radio station worker who met Brand while he was working for Channel 4 on Big Brother’s Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005, magistrates heard. 

Brand is alleged to have grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before grabbing her breasts and buttocks.

He was charged by post last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

Wearing an open shirt and jeans, the 49-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and that he understood his bail conditions during the short hearing.

It took the comedian more than two minutes to walk the short distance from his vehicle to the court door as photographers attempted to get a shot of his arrival following his flight back to Britain from the US.

He did not speak to reporters as he walked in or out of the court building.

The charges came following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.

In a video previously posted on his X account, Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.

Brand, of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, will appear at the Old Bailey on May 30 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.