Russell Brand trial: Six women allege sex attacks

Russell Brand is currently on trial at Southwark Crown Court, facing seven charges including rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault. Six women have accused the actor and comedian of sex attacks that allegedly occurred over a period of ten years. Brand denies all charges.

Allegations of Attacks

One complainant told the court that Brand transformed into a "monster-like" figure during an alleged rape in a Bournemouth hotel room in 1999. She described him as "dark and arrogant and performing, he was scary, he was demanding." The court heard she struggled to breathe and told Brand "no" during the encounter. She also stated that Brand told her "it's just fun" as the alleged rape unfolded, and that he asked her to take a topless photo of him during the incident.

Another woman alleged that Brand dragged her into a male toilet at a venue, saying he "grabbed" her arm and told her to "come on, come in with me." She described him as having "a wild look in his eyes" during the exchange, which lasted about 20 seconds. She told the court she felt "bewildered" and "confused" afterwards.

A third accuser stated that Brand grabbed her breasts and forced a sex act in a toilet at a Soho bar in 2004. She reported that Brand had a "weird maniacal grin" during the alleged assault. Afterwards, she claimed Brand showed her his penis in a car, saying "come on, come on," to which she responded "no, no."

A fourth complainant alleged that Brand roughly kissed her and pressed his body against her while she was working at Choice FM. Describing the incident, she told the court that his hands were moving so much it felt "violent" and "hard," and that he "just wasn’t stopping."

Trial Proceedings

The prosecution opened the trial on October 14. The alleged offences are reported to have taken place in various locations, including hotel rooms, toilet cubicles, and at Brand's home address. The complainants met Brand through their employment or social events. Brand, who has arrived at court with his wife, Laura Gallacher, has yet to give evidence. The victims are being cross-examined by Brand's defence team.

During cross-examination, defence barristers have suggested that some complainants may not have told the complete truth or that they willingly participated in encounters. The women have explained their reasons for not reporting incidents earlier, citing concerns about their jobs, the difficulty of their word against a celebrity's, and a desire for a quiet life. One complainant suggested that she only decided to report Brand after seeing a documentary about his alleged misconduct in 2023.