Russell Brand guarded by boxer pal of Tyson Fury as he appeared in court on rape and sex assault charges

COMEDIAN Russell Brand was guarded by a boxer pal of Tyson Fury as he appeared in court on rape and sex assault charges, we can reveal.

Brand, 49, brought Joe McCann along as backup at Westminster magistrates’ court on Friday.

Russell Brand brought Joe McCann along as backup at Westminster magistrates’ courtAndrew Styczynski

McCann is a former sparring partner of world heavyweight champ Fury.

Fury was pictured with Joe in 2019 at a boxing gym in Marbella and posted a snap of the pair to his Instagram.