Russell Brand's Accusers Came Forward Independently, Court Hears

Six women who have accused comedian Russell Brand of sexual offenses did not know each other and came forward independently, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Brand, 51, maintains that all sexual contact was consensual and has suggested that his accusers may have "reimagined" their encounters after seeing media reports about the allegations.

Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC detailed allegations from the six women, spanning from 1999 to 2009.

The first alleged incident occurred in 1999 in Bournemouth, where a woman identified as Ms. A claimed Brand raped her in his hotel room after an encounter at the Labour Party conference. She alleged that Brand, after appearing interested in her views on women's issues, unrobed and performed "silly walks" before pushing her onto the bed and proceeding to rape her. Brand has stated he was in Bournemouth but does not recall Ms. A.

In 2001, Ms. B, then working at MTV Europe, alleged Brand grabbed her forearm and urged her into a toilet at the station's reception. She reportedly told him, "are you mad - get off me" before pulling away. Brand declined to answer police questions regarding this incident.

Another allegation, from Ms. C in July 2004, describes Brand pulling her into a toilet at a Soho bar and forcing a sex act despite her protests. She claims he said, "Oh come on, don't be a spoilsport." Afterwards, she alleged she was steered into the back of a car with Brand, who then allegedly urged her to perform another sex act, which she refused. Brand told police he did not recall Ms. C but said it was "possible" they had engaged in sexual activity that had "since been re-imagined."

Around 2004, Ms. D reported being pushed against a wall by Brand at a radio station and kissed "sloppily and aggressively" while he grabbed her body. She managed to push him away, after which he allegedly "sniggered like it was a joke." Brand told police any sexual contact would have been consensual.

Ms. E alleged that after attending Brand's stand-up show in 2009 and visiting his dressing room, she later went to his home. She claims that after consensual sex, Brand anally raped her, telling her to "clean up the mess you have made." She also alleged Brand sent her a text message the following summer saying, "You're dirty, and I wanna push you further." Brand's statement to police asserted he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.

The sixth woman, Ms. F, working for Channel 4 in 2009, alleged Brand placed his head into her groin area while she was sitting in a chair at a Soho studio, saying "come on then, do it," leaving her feeling "startled and incredibly uncomfortable." Brand repeated his statement that consensual incidents had been "reinvented or imagined."

Brand has been charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault.