Russell Brand pleads not guilty to new sexual assault charges

Russell Brand appeared in court in London wearing an unbuttoned cheetah print shirt and denied raping a woman and sexually assaulting another in 2009.

Russell Brand has again pleaded not guilty to new rape and sexual assault charges stemming from alleged incidents that date back nearly two decades.

Brand, 50, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Feb. 24 and denied accusations of raping one woman and sexually assaulting a second woman in 2009.

As he arrived at court wearing a cheetah-print shirt unbuttoned to the middle of his chest, a dark coat, a white fedora, sunglasses and a cross necklace, Brand told reporters he was feeling "blessed."

London's Metropolitan Police announced Brand's charges in a Dec. 23 press release, which did not disclose the identities of the alleged victims.

"The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers," Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi said in a statement. "The Met's investigation remains ongoing, and detectives urge anyone affected by this case, or anyone with information, to come forward and speak with police."