The Metropolitan Police have received a report of an alleged sexual assault in Soho in 2003 following news reports about comedian Russell Brand, the force said.
The 48-year-old comedian and actor has been accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, when he was at the height of his fame working for the BBC, Channel 4 and starring in Hollywood films.
The Met said they have now received an allegation of sexual assault in Soho, central London, in 2003.
In a short statement, the force said: ‘On Sunday September 17, the Met received a report of a sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003.
‘Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support.
‘We first spoke with The Sunday Times on Saturday September 16 and have since made further approaches to The Sunday Times and Channel 4 to ensure that anyone who believes they have been the victim of a sexual offence is aware of how to report this to the police.’
A joint investigation published over the weekend by The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers, alongside a TV documentary by Channel 4 Dispatches, revealed the allegations facing the star.
Brand vehemently denies the allegations and said, in a video posted online on Friday night, that while he was ‘promiscuous’, all of his relationships have been ‘consensual’.
One of the alleged victims, who is being referred to as Alice, claims she was in a relationship with Brand when she was 16 and at school and he was 30 and 31 and appearing on BBC radio.
She says he groomed her, referred to her as ‘The Child’ and assaulted her during their three-month relationship.
Following the investigation, the comedian is facing further claims after more women have come forward with allegations, it has been reported.
‘Several women’ are said to have contacted The Times and The Sunday Times in the wake of a joint investigation with Channel 4 Dispatches which aired at the weekend and which saw separate allegations of sexual assault from four women.
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