Kevin Spacey has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges in the UK dating back up to 17 years.

The Hollywood actor, 62, formally entered his plea at the Old Bailey in central London after previously saying he “strenuously denies” the allegations of three men who are now in their 30s and 40s.

Appearing under his full name – Kevin Spacey Fowler – before Mr Justice Wall, the actor faced four charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013, when the actor was artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in London.

Spacey has an address in Waterloo but his home is in the US, where he has family and a nine-year-old dog.

At an initial magistrates’ court hearing in June, Spacey’s lawyer Patrick Gibbs QC said his client “strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case”.

Mr Gibbs said Spacey had travelled to the UK “to establish his innocence” and “proceed with his life”.

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Kevin Spacey: Oscar-winning actor charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men in the UK

The charges against Spacey are:

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

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges against Spacey in May, but he could only be formally charged once he had travelled to the UK.

Spacey is known for starring roles in American Beauty and The Usual Suspects, for which he won Oscars, and the hit US political thriller series House Of Cards.

He was artistic director at the Old Vic between 2004 and 2015.

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