Russell Brand Accused of Being 'Sexual Predator' as Trial Begins

Russell Brand, the comedian and actor, is facing trial for rape and sexual assault charges, with prosecutors describing him as a "sexual predator" whose desire for sexual contact was "indiscriminate and voracious." The prosecution told a court on Wednesday that the alleged offenses involved six female complainants who did not know each other. Brand denies all charges.

The prosecutor detailed the alleged offenses, stating that "regardless of who the women were and what they said or did, Brand was not deterred." The court heard that Brand could be "nice when he wanted to be, funny, charming, likeable even, when he wanted something in return," but would also be "demanding, entitled, a flirt with a huge sexual appetite." After encounters, the prosecution said he would appear "indifferent, normal and untroubled by what had just occurred," sometimes leaving promptly, making excuses, or continuing as though nothing had happened.

The first complainant alleges she met Brand before he was famous in 1999. After attending a Labour Party conference fringe event, where she spoke to Brand, he allegedly raped her. When questioned by police about this, Brand reportedly said if it happened, he did not remember the incident, did not remember the complainant's name, and had never engaged in non-consensual activity.

The second complainant, who worked for MTV, claims Brand indecently assaulted her. Prosecutors stated that Brand asked her for directions to the toilets, then asked her to "come in" before grabbing her forearm. She described him as having a "desperate, wild-eyed look" as he pleaded, "Please please come in – oh go on."

According to the third complainant, Brand orally raped her in a toilet after they met at a party in 2004. Within a minute of meeting, he allegedly grabbed and squeezed her breasts, then pulled her towards the toilets. The same woman stated that Brand exposed himself while they were driving, saying, "Come on, come on, suck it," to which she refused. He reportedly laughed but accepted her refusal.

The fourth complainant alleges Brand pushed her against a wall at Capital Radio in 2004 or 2005, kissing her "sloppily and aggressively" and "grabbed her body, at her breasts, sides and buttocks, aggressively." She was able to push him away, and he "just sniggered, like it was a joke."

The fifth complainant met Brand at the Hammersmith Apollo in London in 2009. Their encounter began with consensual activity, but he later allegedly raped her anally. The complainant reportedly blamed herself for months and experienced anxiety and illness. Text messages presented in court included Brand texting her, "I wanna push you further," to which she replied, "I think you pushed me far enough – you treated me like an animal." He allegedly responded, "I'm sorry."

The sixth complainant accuses Brand of sexual assault, stating he demanded a massage while she was on a work assignment in 2009. The prosecution said he "fell to his knees and placed his head directly into her groin area."

In response to police questioning in 2023, Brand reportedly stated he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity and that any accounts had been reinvented or imagined following a documentary and subsequent press reporting.

Brand, who rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and hosted television shows such as "Big Brother's Big Mouth" and radio programs, also had a Hollywood career in films like "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." He now lives in Florida and focuses on podcasting. He attended court with his wife, Laura.

The trial is expected to last for six weeks.