by Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has arrived at the Old Bailey, where he will plead guilty to a series of sexual assault allegations.
The 62-year-old Usual Suspects star is charged with crimes against three different men between 2005 and 2013, when he was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.
Wearing a light blue suit, Spacey was flanked by security guards from the Old Bailey as he walked past photographers and entered the famous courthouse.
The actor was charged last month and appeared in the dock for the first time in Westminster magistrates’ court on June 16.
At that hearing, the star’s lawyer, Patrick Gibbs QC, told the packed court: “Mr. Spacey strongly denies any wrongdoing in this case.”
His case was sent for trial by Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, and Spacey will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Court One at the Old Bailey on Thursday morning.
Spacey is expected to be asked to plead guilty to all five charges he faces, and the court will set a trial date.
Spacey, who appears in court records under his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler, was harassed by photographers when he arrived for his first hearing last month.
Sitting in the dock, Spacey could be seen staring for extended periods at the assembled members of the media.
Gibbs said that Spacey, who was in the United States when the charges were first announced, had “returned to the UK … to establish his innocence.”
Spacey is accused of two sexual assaults in March 2005 in London on a man who is now 40 years old.
He is said to have sexually assaulted a second man, now 30, in London in August 2008 and faces a further charge of forcing him to engage in non-consensual penetrative sexual activity.
The final charge dates back to April 2013, when a man now in his 30s says he was sexually assaulted by Spacey in Gloucestershire.
The sexual assaults are said to have taken place when the alleged victims “did not consent and (Spacey) did not reasonably believe he was consenting.”
Spacey, who won two Oscars for his performances in American Beauty and The Usual Suspects, had a successful stint as artistic director at London’s Old Vic theater between 2004 and 2015.
The star of films like LA Confidential, Seven and 2017’s Baby Driver, who is also a Tony, Golden Globe and BAFTA winner, has rarely appeared on camera since sexual misconduct allegations were first brought against him.
He was given an honorary knighthood by Prince Charles, and when the criminal charges were first announced in the UK, Spacey issued a statement saying: “While I am disappointed in your decision to move forward, I will appear voluntarily in the UK.” as soon as I can”. fix and defend myself against these charges, which I trust will prove my innocence.”
Spacey, who gave an apartment in Waterloo as his address, is currently out on unconditional bail in criminal proceedings.
