Kevin Spacey to appear in UK court on alleged sexual offences

The actor has said he will plead not guilty to the charges at Westminster Magistrates Court in London

Actor Kevin Spacey is expected to appear in court in London this week on five charges. AP

American actor Kevin Spacey will appear in a UK court later this week after being charged with sexual offences against three men, police have said.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Thursday.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges against him last month, but Mr Spacey could be charged only once he had travelled to the UK.

The 62-year-old star is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

The Metropolitan Police said that the charges are:

• two counts of sexual assault on a man who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London.
• sexual assault on a man who is now in his 30s, in August 2008 in London, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
• sexual assault on a man, now aged in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.

Mr Spacey had previously said that he would travel to the UK to face the charges and plead not guilty.

In a statement released to Good Morning America after the CPS announcement, Spacey 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.”

Mr Spacey is a two-time Oscar winner and has starred in films such as Seven, LA Confidential, American Beauty and Baby Driver, as well as the Netflix series House of Cards.