By Cynthia Akande
Hollywood actor, Kevin Spacey made his first appearance in court as part of the legal proceedings for four charges of sexual assault filed against him in the UK last month.
The 62-year old star appeared at the Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Thursday morning where he gave his name as Kevin Spacey Fowler, his date of birth as 26 July 1959, and an address in Waterloo, London.
The charges were then read to him. They involve two counts of sexual assault on a man, now in his 40s, in London in March 2005; sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in London in August 2008; and sexual assault on a man, now in his 30s, in Gloucestershire in April 2013.
Spacey was not asked to enter pleas, but his barrister, Patrick Gibbs, told the court: “Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.”
Prosecutor Natalie Dawson argued that Spacey should not be granted the ability to leave Britain, stating that there were “substantial grounds” to believe he may not return to face trial, per the Times. Spacey’s lawyer argued against it, however, noting that the actor needed to travel for work and largely resides in the United States with his dog.
Spacey was granted “unconditional bail” by Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikran, who argued there was no “real risk” that Spacey would not cooperate, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He is scheduled to next appear at the Southwark Crown Court in London on the morning of July 14.
