British actor and comedian Russell Brand has been charged with another two sexual offences, including rape.

London’s Metropolitan Police announced on Tuesday, local time, that the 50-year-old had been charged with rape and sexual assault. The allegations involve two women.

It said the new charges were in addition to the charges laid in April this year that involved another four women.

He was charged with two counts of rape, one of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.

He pleaded not guilty to the initial charges at Southwark Crown Court in May.

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Mr Brand has been summoned to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 20 to face the two new charges.

A trial is set to begin at Southwark Crown Court on June 16 on the five original charges.

On X, after the new charges against him were announced, Mr Brand said he felt “blessed” to “have the opportunity to atone for the many things over the years I did wrong” and for being able “to ensure that people understand the truth of my situation”.

He said: “I pray Lord that anyone that I’ve harmed or hurt in my years of mindlessness in sin would be healed.”

Mr Brand has consistently denied having non-consensual sex since allegations were first aired two years ago.

After the original charges were announced, he said he had been a fool and a sex addict in his younger days, but “what I never was, was a rapist”.

Detectives began investigating the entertainer after reports in the UK media aired a number of allegations of historical sexual offences.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the investigation was “ongoing” and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.

The actor-comedian was once one of the UK’s biggest stars and he was previously married to pop star Katy Perry.

He has hosted shows on mainstream television and radio, and also written memoirs about his battles with drugs and alcohol.

However, he has largely disappeared from mainstream media in recent years.

He has built a significant following online with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories.