Russell Brand 'apologised for treating woman like an animal', court told

Russell Brand allegedly apologised for treating a woman "like an animal" after a sexual encounter in 2009, Southwark Crown Court has heard. The woman claims the comedian had sex with her without consent following a meeting at a Hammersmith Apollo show that year.

Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC told the court that the woman had a threesome with Brand backstage at the venue before consensual sex at his north London home. However, she alleges that Brand then raped her at his Hampstead residence. The court heard that Brand appeared "horrified" afterwards and allegedly instructed her to "clean up the mess".

Text message exchange

The court heard that the following year, after a chance meeting in Scotland, Brand allegedly texted the woman: "Because you're dirty, and I wanna push you further." The woman stated in response: "I think you pushed me far enough, you treated me like an animal." She claims Brand replied: "I'm sorry."

Ms Karmy-Jones informed the court that the woman had struggled with alcohol addiction and spent years blaming herself for the events. Brand had reportedly concluded his 2009 Hammersmith Apollo show by telling the audience that they could have sex with him if they fancied him, stating his age range was "from 16 to death."

The woman stated she bumped into Brand in the bar after the show and kissed him, despite having a boyfriend. A member of Brand's security allegedly directed her for drinks backstage, where she agreed to a threesome with Brand and another woman. She refused full sexual intercourse at that time. Brand then reportedly asked for her phone number and later invited her to his home.

Second allegation

A separate allegation involves a Channel 4 worker who accuses Brand of sexual assault during filming in 2009. Ms Karmy-Jones stated that the woman was informed Brand was "unhappy" and the situation would not improve unless she gave him a massage. When she initially thought this was a joke, she was told she had to comply. The court heard that Brand then knelt beside her chair and placed his head into her groin area, pressing his face into her thigh. The alleged victim stated she "froze" as Brand spoke, and she could feel his breath.

Russell Brand has denied all charges against him. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assault. He provided a prepared statement to police stating he had "never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity, and any accounts had been reinvented or imagined after a defamatory documentary and subsequent press reporting."

The trial at Southwark Crown Court is ongoing.