Russell Brand Accused of Predatory Behavior in London Sex Assault Trial

Russell Brand behaved as a "ruthless" sexual predator when he assaulted six women over a decade, a prosecutor said Wednesday as the rape and sexual assault case against the actor-comedian began.

Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges involve six women and alleged offenses that occurred between 1999 and 2009. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors at Southwark Crown Court in London that the women, who do not know each other, were assaulted in various locations, including a hotel room, workplaces, a toilet cubicle in a bar, and at Brand's home address.

Karmy-Jones described Brand as having an "indiscriminate and voracious" desire for sexual contact, with "women were simply a means to an end." She added that Brand could be funny and charming, "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 stated.

The prosecutor detailed allegations from the complainants. One woman claims Brand raped her in a hotel room in 1999 during the Labour Party’s annual conference. Another alleges that Brand attempted to drag her into a men's bathroom at her workplace two years later. In 2004, a third woman alleges Brand orally raped her in a London bar restroom, dismissing her request to stop.

Other accusations include Brand kissing and groping a woman at a London radio station in 2004 or 2005, leaving her feeling "dirty and disgusting." A then-21-year-old fan alleges Brand anally raped her at his home in 2009 after meeting him at a show. Text messages exchanged with Brand following this alleged incident reportedly show the woman telling him, "You treated me like an animal," to which he replied, "I'm sorry."

The final complainant alleges that Brand demanded a massage and pressed his face into her groin during the recording of an advertisement in 2009.

Karmy-Jones noted that none of the alleged victims reported the assaults at the time, attributing this to guilt, shame, and fear of blame. They came forward to the police individually after a 2023 television program broadcast anonymous claims against Brand.

The first witness, Mark Pinheiro, a former friend of Brand who accompanied him on a 1999 trip, testified that Brand seemed "incredibly alert and incredibly afraid" the day after the alleged rape and hid from police sirens. Brand's lawyer, Ian Winter, questioned Pinheiro's recollection of events from over 25 years ago.

Brand denies all charges and, in police interviews, denied any nonconsensual sexual activity. The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks.

Brand arrived at court to media attention and stated he felt "blessed." He added, "I feel, of course, concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved. That's my prayer."

Known for his stand-up routines and past struggles with addiction, Brand gained prominence in the early 2000s through television programs and a BBC radio show. He also appeared in Hollywood films such as "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek," and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry. In recent years, he has shifted away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida, and cultivated a large online following with content mixing wellness, conspiracy theories, and religious discussions.