Kevin Spacey will ‘strenuously deny’ sex allegations
Oscar winning actor Kevin Spacey appeared in court today (thurs) charged with carrying out four sex attacks on three men.
The House of Cards star, 62, was charged earlier this week after Met Police launched an investigation in 2017.
The prosecution allege the incidents happened between 2005 and 2008 in London while the final allegation is said to have happened in 2013 in Gloucestershire.
The bespectacled American Beauty actor appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court as Kevin Spacey Fowler wearing a light blue suit, white shirt and polka dot tie.
He stood holding his hands in front of him before he was told to sit in the dock by
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram addressed him as Mr Fowler.
Spacey stood standing in the court before he was invited to sit by the judge.
He then gave his full name, confirmed his date of birth of 26 July 1959, and his London address Westminster Bridge Road before the charges were read to the court.
Spacey was not required to enter pleas and he will appear at Southwark crown court on July 14.
Earlier Spacey smiled for the cameras as he was mobbed by photographers and camera crews as he exited a silver Mercedes outside court.
The first two charges relate to alleged sexual assaults on a man, now in his 40s, in London in March 2005.
The second alleged victim, a man now in his 30s, claims he was sexually assaulted by Spacey in London in August 2008.
Spacey also faces a serious sexual offence charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent relating to the second alleged victim.
He faces a fourth charge of sexual assault against the third complainant, now in his 30s, in Gloucestershire in April 2013.
Mr Spacey, a two-time Oscar winner, is well known for starring in films such as Seven, LA Confidential and Baby Driver.
The Usual Suspects star was also the artistic director of the Old Vic between 2004 and 2015.
The first two charges of sexual assault against Spacey allege that on 20 March 2005 ‘within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court he intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting.’
The third sexual assault charge against Spacey alleges that between 1 August 2008 and 31 August 2008 ‘within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court he intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting.’
The fourth charge against Spacey, of causing a male 13 or over to engage in penetrative sexual activity alleges that between 1 August 2008 and 31 August 2008 ‘within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court with intent caused a man aged 16 or over to engage in sexual activity involving the penetration of his mouth with a person’s penis when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting.’
The fifth charge against Spacey of sexual assault on a male on 1 April 2013 ‘within the jurisdiction of The Central Criminal Court intentionally touched a man aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when he did not consent and you did not reasonably believe that he was consenting.’
Spacey was later granted unconditional bail ahead of his preliminary hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July.
The judge said he was persuaded by the star’s barrister Patrick Gibbs, QC, that there was ‘no real risk’ of him failing to attend his next hearing.
The court was told Spacey ‘strenuously denies’ the charges.
The actor entered the courtroom flanked by three lawyers, walked into the dock and stood with his hands threaded together in front of him before sitting at the Deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram invitation.
As he sat, Spacey looked around, inspecting his surroundings.
He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
Prosecutor Natalie Dawson said: ‘You will be aware that the fourth charge of five is indictable only.
‘That being the case the Crown would invite that all matters be sent to the crown court.’
The first two charges relate to alleged sexual assaults on a man, now in his 40s, in London in March 2005.
The second alleged victim, a man now in his 30s, claims he was sexually assaulted by Spacey in London in August 2008.
Spacey also faces a serious sexual offence charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent relating to the second alleged victim.
He faces a fourth charge of sexual assault against the third complainant, now in his 30s, in Gloucestershire in April 2013.
The actor remained standing while the charges were read out and nodded once at their conclusion.
Patrick Gibbs, QC, defending, said: ‘Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.
‘He has answered each of these allegations in interview more than three years ago in 2019 in the USA and now he has returned voluntarily in the UK and will continue to do so in order to establish his innocence.’
The court heard that Spacey went through four days of interviewing in New York and promised at the end of them that if he was charged he would come to the UK to answer them.
‘Having seen the full Crown’s case, pages and pages of statements and exhibits delivered to him…he has chosen, not on bail, to come to this court today and my submission is that you can have every confidence, and the judge at Southwark can have every confidence, that he will continue to attend,’ Mr Gibbs continued.
‘He needs to answer these charges if he is to proceed with his life.’
The barrister argued against bail conditions saying his client has cooperated fully and needed to be able to travel for work.
Deputy chief magistrate Ikram granted Spacey unconditional bail ahead of his plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July.
He said: ‘I am going to send your case to the crown court sitting at Southwark.
‘I am going to grant you unconditional bail.
‘Every defendant has a right to unconditional bail unless the court is of the view that there is a real risk.
‘You have cooperated, I am told, and this has not been at all challenged by the Crown ,with the authorities both in New York and you voluntarily attended these proceedings here today.
‘Indeed I withdrew the warrant which was issued for your arrest because it was not necessary.
‘I am not persuaded that there is a real risk, bearing in mind all that I have heard about you, that you would fail to surrender.’
Spacey nodded and walked slowly out of the dock when he was told that he was free to leave.
ends
