Russell Brand’s Oxfordshire pub remains locked down as allegations of rape, sexual assault, and controlling behaviour against him rage on.
The Crown Inn is owned by Brand, 48, and his wife Laura, 36, – his second wife after his 14-month marriage to Katy Perry – with photos emerging this week of security fencing erected around the property.
It comes after a Channel 4 Dispatches special exposed Brand’s alleged crimes, with several women making accusations about him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame in TV, radio, and film.
Since, Brand’s career has taken several knocks, with investigations launched, his tours cancelled, YouTube channel demonetised, and the Metropolitan Police received a complaint of an alleged assault in 2003.
The Get Him to the Greek actor has kept a low profile and hasn’t been seen in public since Saturday at his sold-out Wembley gig, having uploaded a video denying all allegations against him hours before and later professing his love for the crowd.
Locals previously said they believe he’s hiding out at his country pub.
The Crown Inn is currently closed to the public, as stated by a sign at its entrance.
Meanwhile, it has been obscured from view by fences covered with a beige hessian fabric.
On the inside, however, the sprawling 15th-century property boasts a pub garden with outdoor seating, a car park, a stable, detached barn, as well as a two-bed cottage and garage.
Its interior has a rustic feel, with open fires and quarry-tiled floors.
The high-backed wooden settles and horse brasses make it the typical country pub.
Brand took over the pub with Laura – who is currently pregnant with their third child – in March 2020.
However, they are now facing a probe from the council over the security fencing they have put up to keep people from seeing in.
As per planning regulations, Brand would have needed permission to erect a fence over one metre high that fronts a road used by vehicles.
It was previously unknown whether Brand had sought permission, but South Oxfordshire District Council has now slammed the controversial comic’s ‘unauthorised fencing’.
The council has confirmed that a planning enforcement investigation is underway.
A spokesperson told Mail Online: ‘Permission is required for the fencing that has been erected at The Crown Inn, Pishill.
‘We have an open planning enforcement investigation which includes the unauthorised fencing.
‘In accordance with our Planning Enforcement Statement, we cannot provide any further information at this stage of our investigation.’
Oxfordshire-based planning consultant Mark Doodes added that Brand will be probed for information on his reasons for putting up the fence.
He said it’s unlikely the fence will be approved due to the historic nature of the building.
‘In this case, the public house is a Grade II listed building. Consequently, the means of enclosure is unlikely to be permitted under the General Permitted Development Order as it would likely involve Development within the curtilage of a listed building,’ he said.
‘As means of enclosure are often relatively limited in scale, and given the complexities of the GPDO, this may have been an easy oversight by Mr Brand.
‘If the fence has damaged any historic fabric, such as by connecting it to the Pub itself unsympathetically, it could be seen as a criminal offence.’
Should Brand be prosecuted, he could be fined thousands of pounds if the case reaches a Crown Court.
Speaking to The Oxford Mail, one local resident said of the fence on Monday: ‘As we drove past this morning, they were putting up a hessian covering.
‘It was like a sack covering across the front. It felt locked down.
‘When we slowed down to look, the man putting it up stopped to look at us.’
‘I saw three security men in Hi-Vis behind,’ they continued. ‘There were lots of people inside the building as well – about half a dozen.’
The woman also said she thinks Brand wanted to shield his pub from ‘prying eyes’, as she believed him to be inside.
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