Comedian Russell Brand appears in UK court for start of rape trial

London, October 12 - Comedian and actor Russell Brand stepped into Southwark Crown Court on Monday to commence his trial on multiple allegations of rape and sexual assault. Known for his left-wing persona in the past, Brand has since transformed himself into a conservative figure among his numerous social media supporters. Dressed in a grey suit and sunglasses, 51-year-old Brand was accompanied by his wife, Laura, as he entered the court.

He faces seven sexual offence charges, allegedly involving six women between 1999 and 2009. Brand has entered a not guilty plea to all charges, which include three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. Jury selection commenced on Monday, with the trial projected to span approximately 10 weeks.

Born in 1975 to working-class parents in Essex, east London, Brand initially pursued a stand-up comedy career as a teenager before becoming an MTV presenter and host of a reality TV show. His career took a controversial turn when he left an explicit voicemail for actor Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter while working on BBC's Radio 2 station.

Brand later ventured into Hollywood, experiencing a brief but high-profile marriage to US pop star Katy Perry.