Georgina Baillie, the granddaughter of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs, has described Russell Brand as a "seriously unwell sex addict" following his conviction for rape and sexual assault. Brand was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court after a trial where victims detailed his behavior between 1999 and 2009.
Baillie, who was a 21-year-old performer when she began a consensual, albeit casual, relationship with Brand, became the focus of national attention in 2008. Brand and BBC Radio 2 co-presenter Jonathan Ross left voicemails on Sachs' answerphone, revealing details of Brand's sexual relationship with his granddaughter, which were subsequently broadcast. The incident, dubbed "Sachsgate," led to widespread outrage and had a profound personal impact on Baillie, contributing to her descent into alcohol and drug addiction and a breakdown in her relationship with her grandfather.
"He has been found guilty and I now want Russell to right the wrongs," Baillie said in an interview with the Daily Mail. She added, "I feel very sad and disappointed in him." Baillie views Brand's actions through the lens of her own recovery from addiction, stating, "Russell Brand is a sex addict. It's obvious to me. That boy is seriously unwell." She explained that understanding cross-addiction in recovery made her realize how Brand's behavior might stem from addiction, but stressed this does not excuse his crimes.
Baillie recounted how the "Sachsgate" incident caused her to not speak to her grandparents for eight years. She eventually reconciled with Sachs, who had dementia, shortly before his death in 2016. She expressed hope that Brand would now make amends to his victims, just as he had previously paid for her therapy and rehabilitation costs, which she acknowledged helped her turn her life around.
Brand's conviction has brought renewed attention to the "Sachsgate" scandal and its long-term consequences. Baillie provided a statement for Brand's defense, which was not used in court, but maintained she only told the truth about her own experiences with him.
"I want those victims to get some help. I really do. It's possible to recover from this," Baillie stated, drawing on her own experience as a survivor of sexual assault, though not at the hands of Brand.