LONDON – In a significant development, British authorities have filed additional charges of rape and sexual assault against comedian Russell Brand. This comes amid ongoing legal proceedings related to similar allegations from other women.

The Crown Prosecution Service in the U.K. announced these fresh charges, which include one count of rape and one of sexual assault, involving two additional women. These incidents are alleged to have occurred in 2009, further complicating Brand’s legal challenges.

Earlier this year, in April, Brand, now 50, was already facing serious charges: two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. These charges emerged after an 18-month investigation prompted by accusations from four women, who claimed they were assaulted by the comedian known for his provocative humor and public controversies.

The initial allegations cover offenses purportedly committed between 1999 and 2005, with one occurring in the coastal town of Bournemouth and the others in London. Brand has maintained his innocence, entering a not guilty plea in a London courtroom earlier this year.

Brand is slated to return to court on January 20 to address the new charges against him. Additionally, a trial concerning the previous allegations is set for June next year, expected to span four to five weeks.

Known for his role in “Get Him To The Greek” and his candid stand-up performances, Brand has largely retreated from traditional media. Instead, he has cultivated a substantial online presence, engaging audiences with content that intertwines wellness, conspiracy theories, and religious discourse.

When the first batch of charges were announced in April, Brand said that he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.

“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord,” he said in a social media video. “I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”

The Associated Press doesn’t name victims of alleged sexual violence, and British law protects their identity from the media for life.