Russell Brand admits to having sex with 16-year-old

The 50-year-old comedian, turned actor and podcaster, is facing trial this summer over allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him by six women.

He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court at the delayed October 12 hearing for three charges of rape, three allegations of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault

Mr Brand, who was once married to Katy Perry and denies the charges, which date from 1999 to 2009, spoke about his actions on the YouTube show of Megyn Kelly, a US journalist, calling himself “selfish” and an “exploiter of women”.

He said: “In Europe and the United Kingdom, where I’m from, the age of consent is 16, and I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30.

“When I was 30, I was a very different person.

“I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old.

“Consensual sex with a lot of people, when there is a strong power differential, as there is when you are a famous man who has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation. I think it is exploitative.

“I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I did not apply enough consideration, barely any I suppose, really, to how that sex was affecting other people.”

The 50-year-old began his career as a comedian before bagging a presenting role on MTV.

He has also starred in Big Brother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, Arthur and Rock of Ages.