The trial of the Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey has begun in London.

Spacey, 63, is in court in the UK on 12 charges following an investigation by Metropolitan Police.

The two-time Oscar winner’s trial is taking place at Southwark Crown Court and is expected to last four weeks.

Kevin Spacey trial as it happened

Jurors have been warned that although they may know the actor from films and TV – and there will be widespread coverage of the case in the media – they must not discuss or research the case.

What is Spacey accused of?

Spacey faces 12 allegations in relation to four men, who have lifelong anonymity under sex offence laws.

The charges are:

• Three counts of indecent assault;

• Seven counts of sexual assault;

• One count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent;

• One count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

He has pleaded not guilty to all of them, with his lawyer Patrick Gibbs KC previously telling the court his client “strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case”.

Spacey first appeared at the Old Bailey in July last year when he faced the first five allegations in relation to three of the men.

They were four counts of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and were alleged to have happened between 2005 and 2013.

In January of this year he appeared again – this time at Southwark Crown Court on a further seven charges relating to the fourth and final complainant.

Those charges are three of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. They are alleged to have happened between 2001 and 2005.

He is appearing under his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler and he has been granted unconditional bail.

The 63-year-old is best-known for starring in films American Beauty and The Usual Suspects and the hit Netflix show House Of Cards.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

He was also artistic director at The Old Vic theatre in London between 2004 and 2015.

The judge in the case is Mr Justice Wall.

Related posts:

COP26 conference ‘last, best opportunity to get real’ on the climate, says John Kerry Revealed: The areas with the highest and lowest COVID vaccination rates for over-50s Gov says new online safety bill will keep people safe but not everyone is convinced Police helicopter finds missing girl, six, asleep in a field over half a mile from her home Henley Regatta lets women wear trousers for the first time in its 182-year history Will Emma Raducanu be able to stay at the top in tennis for years to come? Women diagnosed with cervical cell changes ‘often experience feelings of shame, isolation and anxiety’ Meet PJ, the new corgi emoji to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Gary Neville referred to attorney general for potential contempt of court Man shot dead by armed officers after entering police station car park with knife is named Edinburgh branded ‘pothole capital of Europe’ as residents move traffic cones into holes MPs raise baby formula theft after Sky News investigation