Russell Brand was grilled by cops NINE years ago over accusations he sexually assaulted masseuse – as fresh claims emerge he ‘groped girls as a teen at his old school under his cloak of love’ with ex-pupils now urged to come forward
- Comedian Russell Brand, 48, was accused of sexual assault earlier last Saturday
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Russell Brand was reportedly questioned by police in 2014 over claims he sexually assaulted a masseuse after she was hired to give him a £500 birthday massage.
The alleged victim reportedly told police she was ‘touched in a sexual way’ by Brand, 48, at a £5million mansion in Oxfordshire, which she said traumatised her.
The allegations, reported by The Sun on Sunday, are the first known instance of the comedian being interviewed by police over sexual assault allegations.
The masseuse contacted Thames Valley Police, who interviewed Brand. The comedian denied any wrongdoing and the case was dropped.
It comes as Brand’s old school has put out an appeal for former students to come forward with allegations after a classmate at central London’s Italia Conti Performing Arts School accused the comedian of groping female pupils under a ‘cloak of love’.
The BBC is also currently facing fresh questions over its role in the developing scandal as it investigates allegations over the comic’s behaviour during stints working for Radio 2 and 6 Music.
Comedian Russell Brand denied any wrongdoing and the case was dropped
Russell Brand is seen posing with Burlesque dancers Vanessa and Valeria at The Brit Awards 2007 Valentine’s Day photocall, Earls Court, London, on 13 Feb 2007
According to The Sun, the masseuse was hired to give Brand a massage at the Oxfordshire mansion in June 2014.
She claims she was touched by Brand in a sexual way before being forced out of the house, which she protested.
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Police say Brand told them he was uneasy when the woman arrived and decided to back out of the massage – and was then escorted out of the house and left.
He said it was friends but awkward.
Brand claimed CCTV supported his version of the story, and the police told Brand later they were not pursuing the matter.
Separately, Brands old school is now appealing for alumnae to come forward with allegations of abuse.
It follows an allegation that the comic grabbed girls under his ‘cloak of love’ while studying at the prestigious central London performing arts school.
The school is said to be ‘deeply concerned’ about claims brought by Tony Brown, according to The Mirror.
Comedian Russell Brand has faced a number of allegations of misconduct following a four-year-long joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, published last Saturday.
Brand denies all allegations of impropriety and has said all his relationships have been consensual.
Four women came forward, including one who claimed Brand raped her against the wall of his Los Angeles home in 2013.
Another woman alleged he sexually assaulted when she was 16-years-old and still at school.
In the wake of the scandal, a fifth woman filed a report to the Metropolitan Police, claiming she was sexually assaulted by the star in Soho, London, in 2003.
The force are investigating the claims.
A sixth woman accused Brand of locking her in a dressing room and pinning her to sofa with a ‘glazed’ look on his face. The alleged incident, as reported in The Sun, was said to have taken place in 2008 when the comic was 33, after a gig in West London.
On Thursday a seventh woman came forward claiming Brand exposed himself to her in an office where BBC Los Angeles operated from in 2008, before going to pre-record a programme for Radio 2 where he appeared to joke about the alleged incident.
An eighth woman, who was named Sarah to protect her identity, has claimed the comic had left her feeling ‘vulnerable and intimidated’ after he allegedly refused to get her a taxi until she performed a sex act.
On Saturday, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 ‘s Dispatches reported allegations of abusive and predatory behaviour including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse said to have been committed by the comedian between 2006 and 2013
Brand seen at BBC Radio 2 on December 5, 2014 in London. He denies all allegations
The BBC is under fire over claims that managers were told in 2019 about the alleged incident where Brand exposed himself to a woman in LA.
Two former BBC bosses are also facing fresh questions over their roles amid the wider investigation into Brand’s alleged wrongdoings while working for the radio.
Lesley Douglas, who was in charge of BBC Radio 2 during Brand’s stint, has been freed from confidentiality restrictions so her role can be examined.
New evidence will also ‘raise questions about the judgment of Sir Mark Thompson’, the BBC’s former director-general, according to The Sunday Times.
The BBC has launched an investigation into the new claims about Brand’s alleged behaviour.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: ‘We’re very sorry to hear of these allegations and we will look into them.
‘We are conducting a review to look at allegations of this nature and if the woman who has shared her story is willing to speak to us, we would be very keen to hear from her and anyone else who may have information.
‘A key part of the review is to understand what complaints were made at the time, if there was knowledge of Russell Brand’s conduct while he worked on BBC radio, and what was done as a result.
‘We will, of course, speak to the bureau team and anyone who was working there in 2008 as part of this.
‘Further, the director-general has been very clear that some broadcasts from that period were, and are, inexcusable and totally unacceptable, and would never be aired today.’
MailOnline contacted Thames Valley Police for comment.
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