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
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 is said to have told police she had been ‘touched in a sexual manner’ by Brand, 48, at a £5million mansion in Oxfordshire, which she said traumatized her.
The allegations, reported by The sun on Sundayare the first known example of the comedian being interviewed by police over allegations of sexual assault.
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 a appeal For former students, allegations emerged after a classmate at Italia Conti Performing Arts School in central London accused the comedian of groping female students under a ‘cloak of love’.
The BBC is also currently facing fresh questions about its role in the developing scandal as it investigates allegations about the comic’s behavior during stints working for Radio 2 and 6 Music.
Comedian Russell Brand denied any wrongdoing and the case was dropped
Russell Brand poses with burlesque dancers Vanessa and Valeria at the 2007 Brit Awards Valentine’s Day photocall, Earls Court, London, on February 13, 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 in a sexual manner by Brand before being forced out of the house, which she protested.
Police say Brand told them he felt uncomfortable when the woman arrived and decided to back out of the massage – at which point she was escorted out of the house and left.
He said they were friends, but awkward.
Brand claimed that CCTV supported his version of the story, and police later told Brand they were not pursuing the case.
In addition, Brands old school is now calling on alumni to come forward with allegations of abuse.
It follows an accusation that the comedian grabbed girls under his ‘cloak of love’ while they were studying at the prestigious performing arts school in central London.
The school is said to be ‘deeply concerned’ by Tony Brown’s claims The mirror.
Comedian Russell Brand has faced a number of allegations of misconduct following a four-year joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, which was published last Saturday.
Brand denies all allegations of impropriety and has said all of 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 that he sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old and still in school.
In the wake of the scandal, a fifth woman filed a report with the Metropolitan Police, alleging she was sexually assaulted by the star in Soho, London, in 2003.
The force is investigating the claims.
A sixth woman accused Brand of locking her in a dressing room and pinning her to the couch with a “slick” look on his face. The alleged incident, as reported in The Sun, is said to have taken place in 2008, when the comic was 33, after a performance in west London.
On Thursday, a seventh woman came forward claiming Brand exposed himself to her in an office where BBC Los Angeles operated in 2008, before going to record a program for Radio 2 in which he appeared to joke about the alleged incident.
An eighth woman, named Sarah to protect her identity, claims the comic 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 behavior, including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, allegedly committed by the comedian between 2006 and 2013.
Fire seen on BBC Radio 2 on December 5, 2014 in London. He denies all accusations
The BBC has come under fire over claims 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 about their roles amid the wider investigation into Brand’s alleged misdeeds while working in radio.
Lesley Douglas, who was in charge of BBC Radio 2 during Brand’s tenure, has been released from confidentiality restrictions so her role can be investigated.
New evidence will also ‘raise questions about the judgment of Sir Mark Thompson’, the former director general of the BBC, 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 are very sorry to hear of these allegations and we will investigate them.
‘We are carrying out an investigation to investigate allegations of this nature and if the woman who shared her story is willing to talk to us, we would be very happy to hear from her and anyone who may have information.
‘An important part of the assessment is to understand what complaints were made at the time, whether there was knowledge of Russell Brand’s conduct while working on BBC radio, and what was done as a result.
‘Of course we will discuss this with the office team and everyone who worked there in 2008.
“Furthermore, the Director General has made it very clear that some of the broadcasts from that period were and are inexcusable and totally unacceptable and would never be broadcast today.”
MailOnline contacted Thames Valley Police for comment.