Spacey denies ‘any and all criminality’ as sex assault charges head for crown court trial
KEVIN SPACEY, the Oscar-winning actor, has strenuously denied “any and all criminality”, as he appeared in court in London charged with a series of historic sex offences against men.
Spacey, 62, was mobbed by photographers as he arrived at Westminster magistrates’ court to face four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He had been charged earlier this week, after returning to Britain from the US.
Flanked by security men and lawyers – including one from the United States – Spacey entered the glass-walled dock of Court One for the 30-minute hearing which took place before Tan Ikram, the deputy chief magistrate.
Wearing a blue suit, white shirt and blue spotted tie, Spacey spoke only to confirm his full name, his date of birth and his London address. The clerk of the court read the details of the charges to Spacey, but he was not asked to indicate a plea.
Natalie Dawson, prosecuting, told Mr Ikram: “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 sexual assault charges relate to alleged incidents that took place in March 2005 in London, against a man who is now in his 40s. The third sexual assault charge, and the fourth charge of penetrative sexual activity without consent, relate to alleged incidents that took place in London in August 2008 against a man now in his 30s.
The fifth offence is another sexual assault charge, which is alleged to have taken place at an address in Gloucestershire in April 2013, involving a man now in his 30s.
Mr Ikram sent the case to Southwark Crown Court and told Spacey his next appearance would be at 9.30am on July 14. Patrick Gibbs QC, defending, asked that his client be given unconditional bail to allow him to continue working as an actor, attending auditions and to look after his nine-year-old dog, which lives in the US.
He said Spacey had co-operated fully with the police investigation, including voluntarily submitting to four days of interviews by Met detectives in New York City.
Mr Gibbs told Mr Ikram: “Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.
‘I will defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence’
“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 to the UK and will continue to do so in order to establish his innocence.”
Spacey was granted unconditional bail by Mr Ikram.
After the CPS authorised charges, Spacey – who won Oscars for his performances in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty – issued a statement saying he would fight all the charges and looked forward to clearing his name.
In a statement released to Good Morning America, he said: “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”