LONDON — Russell Brand got out of a sleek black Mercedes on Friday and took his first steps toward a court where he faces charges of rape and sexual assault in a scene far removed from a walk down a Hollywood red carpet.
The actor-comedian, wearing a black collared shirt open to his midsection and sporting a gold cross, was quickly mobbed by cameras. He stood bolt upright and paced slowly forward through a crush of media and onlookers, protected by a ring of bodyguards and uniformed police officers.
The comedian, author and ''Get Him To The Greek'' actor gave a thumbs-up motion as he entered Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London. His wavy locks flowed to his shoulders, his beard was peppered with gray and he wore a pair of gold-framed sunglasses, black jeans and brown boots.
Inside a packed courtroom, Brand stood in the dock and confirmed his name, birth date and address during the brief hearing and was granted conditional bail after a prosecutor read a summary of complaints made by four women that date back a quarter century.
Brand, 49, was charged last month with two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. He didn't enter a plea, and has previously denied the allegations made against him.
The alleged offenses took place between 1999 and 2005 — one in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and the other three in London. The Associated Press doesn't name victims of alleged sexual violence, and the British law grants them lifelong anonymity in the media.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ordered Brand to show up at the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, on May 30 and granted him bail on the condition that he keeps the court informed of where he is staying, either in the U.K. or in the U.S.
He currently lives in Florida, but is obliged to attend all future court appearances. If he doesn't abide by the conditions, he faces being jailed.
