Russell Brand Court Hearing Focuses on Allegations of Sexual Assault

Russell Brand allegedly "looked possessed" with "completely blank" eyes as he raped a woman in a Soho bar toilet in 2004, a court was told.

The comedian is accused of dragging the woman, who was in her 20s and working for MTV at the time, into a cubicle, locking the door, and forcing her to perform a sex act. He is alleged to have told her "don't be a spoilsport" during the incident at Nordic Bar.

The woman's sister testified at London's Southwark Crown Court that her sister was "very subdued, distant and not her usual self" the following morning. She recounted her sister's account of the alleged assault, stating that the full extent of the incident was only disclosed in 2023 after news reports about Brand emerged.

Brand's former personal assistant, Helen Berger, who worked with him in 2006 and 2007, also testified. She described Brand as having an "insane sexual appetite" and noted that he often found sexual partners on MySpace. Berger stated that those close to him were "normalising bad behaviour" and that Brand's conduct was "on another level."

Berger recalled instances of Brand's alleged unprofessionalism, including conducting an interview while in his underwear and an open robe, and finding a female celebrity asleep in his bed while he was partially dressed. She also stated that she was initially instructed to obtain phone numbers from female fans, an instruction she later refused.

Separately, the manager of a Channel 4 worker who claims she was sexually assaulted by Brand during a forced massage at a recording session recalled her colleague being "shocked" by the incident. Another colleague described the session as "chaotic" and mentioned Brand's demand for a massage before he would record.

The alleged victim in that incident told the court she felt "repulsed" after being forced to massage Brand, who allegedly thrust his head into her lap. She claims Brand's associates goaded her and then laughed during the assault.

Brand denies all charges, which include three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. The trial is ongoing.