Actor Kevin Spacey has been charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.

In addition, the Oscar-winning American actor faces one charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

On Thursday (26 May), Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, which “deals with the most complex and sensitive cases in England and Wales”, said: “The CPS has authorised criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men.

“He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”

According to the CPS, Spacey is due to appear in court, although a date has not been made public.

The first two sexual assault charges are alleged to have both been against the same male complainant, and to have taken place in London in March 2005.

The third sexual assault charge and the charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent were allegedly against a second male complainant in London in August 2008.

The final sexual assault charge relates to an alleged offence against a third man in Gloucestershire in 2013.

The actor worked at the Old Vic theatre in London between 2004 and 2015, the time period when the alleged offences occurred.

Spacey is known for his roles in films like The Usual Suspects, LA Confidentialand Seven, and more recently he has starred as politician Frank Underwood in the Netflix series House of Cards, as well as working as an executive producer on the show.