Noel Clarke denies six sexual offence charges at Westminster Magistrates' Court

Key points

• Noel Clarke entered a not guilty plea to six sexual offence charges at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 21 October 2026.
• The charges include two counts of sexual assault, three counts of voyeurism, and one count of exposure.
• Allegations were made by five women and relate to incidents occurring between 2007 and 2016.
• The Metropolitan Police conducted a year-long investigation before the Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charges.
• This legal proceeding follows Clarke's previous loss of a libel case against The Guardian.

Background

In September 2026, it was reported that Clarke faced these specific charges after a year-long police investigation. The allegations involved five women and covered a decade-long period. Prior to this court appearance, Clarke had lost a libel case against The Guardian, which had previously reported on the allegations. The current hearing represents the formal judicial response to the CPS's decision to proceed with the case.

Why it matters

The plea sets the stage for a trial that will determine the outcome of allegations spanning nearly a decade. The case highlights the legal process following a high-profile libel dispute and a lengthy police investigation. It also underscores the timeline of alleged incidents, which predate the current legal proceedings by several years.

What to watch

The case will proceed to trial, where evidence from the five complainants and the Metropolitan Police investigation will be presented. The court will determine the next steps for the trial schedule and any pre-trial motions. Sentencing will only occur if a conviction is reached.