Russell Brand was described as a “ruthless” and manipulative sexual predator by a prosecutor as his rape and sexual assault trial began at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday. According to The Associated Press, the 51-year-old actor-comedian has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving six women. The alleged offences took place between 1999 and 2009.Opening the prosecution’s case, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors that the six women, who did not know one another, were allegedly assaulted at different locations, including a hotel room, workplaces, a bar’s toilet cubicle and Brand’s home.She alleged that Brand had an “indiscriminate and voracious” desire for sexual contact at the time, adding that “women were simply a means to an end”.The prosecutor acknowledged that Brand could be funny and charming but described him as “a flirt with a huge sexual appetite — childlike in his expectation that his every desire should be met”.“He was ruthless, he was calculating, he was manipulative. And, the prosecution say, he was a sexual predator,” Karmy-Jones told the jury.
Six women have made allegations spanning a decade
The court heard details of the allegations, which span a decade. The earliest complainant alleges that Brand raped her in a hotel room in 1999, during the Labour Party’s annual conference in Bournemouth, where he was performing at a fringe cabaret event.Another woman alleges that, in 2001, Brand tried to drag her into a men’s bathroom at the office building where she worked.“There can be little doubt as to what Mr Brand’s intention was,” Karmy-Jones said.A third woman alleges that Brand orally raped her in a London bar’s restroom in 2004. According to the prosecution, when she asked him to stop, he told her, “Don’t be a spoilsport.”The remaining allegations include an incident at a London radio station in 2004 or 2005, when a woman alleges that Brand kissed and groped her, leaving her feeling “dirty and disgusting”.Another complainant, who was 21 at the time, alleges that Brand anally raped her at his home in 2009 after she met him at one of his shows.The prosecutor told the court that the woman exchanged text messages with Brand the following year, telling him, “You treated me like an animal.” He allegedly replied, “I’m sorry.”The sixth complainant alleges that Brand demanded a massage and pressed his face into her groin while an advertisement was being recorded in 2009.
Prosecutor explains why the women did not report the alleged assaults earlier
Karmy-Jones told jurors that none of the women reported the alleged incidents to the police at the time. She said they were held back by feelings of guilt and shame, as well as concerns that they would be blamed.According to the prosecution, the women independently approached the police after a television programme broadcast anonymous allegations against Brand in 2023.The prosecutor said the jury would hear directly from the complainants during the trial, adding, “I have no doubt you will find their evidence compelling.”
Former friend recounts 1999 trip to Bournemouth
The first witness to testify was Mark Pinheiro, a former friend of Brand who accompanied him on the trip to Bournemouth in 1999.Pinheiro told the court that Brand made them leave the town abruptly the day after the alleged rape and appeared “incredibly alert and incredibly afraid”.“Whenever a police siren passed the car, Russell would cower down behind the side window so he couldn’t be seen,” he said.Brand’s lawyer, Ian Winter, questioned Pinheiro’s recollection of events that allegedly took place more than 25 years ago.Brand has denied all the charges. During police interviews, he denied ever engaging in non-consensual sexual activity.
Russell Brand says he feels ‘blessed’ ahead of trial
Brand arrived at court on Wednesday amid a crowd of photographers and video journalists. Speaking briefly, he said he felt “blessed” and expressed hope that the legal proceedings would lead to a positive outcome.“I feel, of course, concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved,” he said. “That’s my prayer.”Known for his risque stand-up comedy and highly publicised struggles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s. He hosted television programmes and a BBC radio show before appearing in Hollywood films such as ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ and ‘Get Him to the Greek’. He was also briefly married to pop star Katy Perry.In recent years, Brand has moved away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and built a substantial online following through videos discussing wellness, conspiracy theories and his religious beliefs.