Kevin Spacey appeared in court in London today (16 June) as he faces four counts of sexual assault and one charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
The 62-year-old actor was pictured outside Westminster Magistrates alongside his legal team and two police officers as he arrived for his formal plea hearing.
Evening Standard reports that in the hearing his charges, relating to alleged incidents that took place between 2005 and 2013, were read out but he was not asked to enter any pleas today.
Spacey was granted unconditional bail by Deputy District Judge Tan Ikram, and is set to face trial for the charges at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July.
Patrick Gibbs QC, defending, told the court that the Usual Suspects star 'returned to the UK…in order to establish his innocence', adding: “Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case."
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The charges follow a review of evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police during its previous investigation into the star.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said last month: “The CPS has authorised criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men.
“He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”
Allegations of sexual assault were first made against Spacey back in 2017, when several men working with him at London's Old Vic theatre between 1995 and 2013 claimed his alleged misconduct.
Topics: Crime, Kevin Spacey
Daisy Phillipson