Russell Brand arrives at a London court to face rape and sexual assault charges

LONDON (AP) — Actor–comedian Russell Brand has arrived at a London court to face charges of rape and sexual assault involving four women.

Brand, 49, is at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for his first hearing since being charged last month.

Brand faces one count of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two of sexual assault. The alleged offenses took place between 1999 and 2005 — one in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and the other three in the Westminster area of central London.