Russell Brand has been granted bail after appearing in court charged with sexual offences including rape.

During the brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, the 49-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address, also confirming to the judge that he understood his bail conditions.

Brand, who has been living in the US, was charged by post last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape – as well as two counts of sexual assault – in connection with incidents involving four separate women between 1999 and 2005.

The allegations were first made in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.

The comedian, actor and author has denied the accusations and said he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity”.

Appearing before Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring, Brand stood to confirm his name and address. He then sat down while the charges were read to the court.

Brand is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area. She alleges that after meeting Brand at a theatrical performance and chatting to him later in her hotel room, she returned from the toilet to find he’d removed some of his clothes. She claims he asked her to take photos of him, and then raped her.

The court also heard of another of Brand’s alleged victims, who has accused him of indecently assaulting her in 2001 by “grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet” at a TV station.

Brand is accused of the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman he met in 2004 in London. He is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly pulling her into a toilet.

The final complainant is a radio worker who has accused Brand of sexually assaulting her between 2004 and 2005 by “kissing” and “grabbing” her breasts and buttocks.

The judge referred the case up to the Crown Court – informally known as the Old Bailey.

Brand was asked to supply both his US and UK addresses to the court.

When asked if he understood his bail conditions, he replied, “Yes”.

The case was adjourned and Brand, of Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, was told he must appear at the Old Bailey on 30 May.

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder over two stabbings in Merseyside.

Merseyside Police said the teenager had also been charged with wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Liverpool Youth Remand court on Friday.

Officers were called to Whitefield Drive in Kirkby at around 8.25pm on Wednesday to reports of two teenagers being stabbed.

They found a 15-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl with knife injuries.

The two remain in hospital where they are said to be in a stable condition.

A second suspect – a 15-year-old boy – has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and wounding with intent as part of the investigation and is currently being questioned by detectives in custody.

A high police presence remains in the Kirkby area to provide reassurance to the public and a S60 order, which gives officers increased stop and search powers, remains in place until 6pm, the force added.

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Detective Inspector Graeme Osborne said the investigation was “ongoing” despite the developments.

“We are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward,” he added.

The UK has seen its warmest start to May on record as temperatures soared to over 29C in the spring sunshine.

The Met Office said 29.3C (84.7F) had been recorded at Kew Gardens in southwest London, passing the previous 1 May record of 27.4C (81.3F) set in Lossiemouth in 1990.

Thursday was also the warmest day of the year so far, beating the previous high of 26.7C (80F) reached in Wisley, Surrey, on Wednesday.

Follow latest updates: May record broken

But the heat is not expected to last for the bank holiday weekend, with cooler weather starting to drift in from the north on Friday.

Temperatures are expected to ease by Friday and Saturday, meaning cooler conditions of 14C to 18C across the UK.

Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: “Temperatures tomorrow will be slightly reduced from what we’ve seen today, possibly 26 or 27 degrees in the far southeast of England through the day tomorrow.”

What has led to the hot spell?

Forecasters said the hot spell has been due to the jet stream remaining stuck north of the country, allowing high pressure to settle.

Last month was also the sunniest April in the UK since records began in 1910, with 47% more sunshine hours than the long-term meteorological average, and the third warmest April on record, according to provisional Met Office figures.

Rainfall was well below average for most of the UK last month, with just 56% of expected totals recorded.

And Tyne and Wear had its second driest April on record, with only 7% of its usual rainfall.

Boy’s body recovered from lake

Meanwhile, the recovery of a 16-year-old boy’s body from a lake in Nottingham prompted emergency services to warn about swimming in lakes and rivers.

Chief Inspector David Mather, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water – regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently.”

The London Fire Brigade said its crews responded to 565 water-related incidents last year and have already attended around 160 in the first quarter of this year, with incidents ranging from rescuing people to animals stranded on lakes and ponds.

‘Water temperatures can be dangerously cold’

Assistant commissioner for prevention and protection Craig Carter said. “Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold. Cold water shock can affect anyone, no matter how fit or experienced they are. It can lead to water inhalation, and, in the worst cases, drowning.”

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) offered similar warnings, advising those planning to swim at a lifeguarded beach to swim between the red and yellow flags.

Fire services warned that the warm weather means there is a “heightened” risk of grass and wildfires which can spread more easily during the dry spell, as firefighters have been battling what they described as a large wildfire in the Peak District.

The RAC also cautioned drivers on the roads, with spokesman Rod Dennis saying breakdowns are expected to “soar”, while the NHS reported searches for hay fever advice had doubled from Monday to Wednesday.