Russell Brand behaved as a “ruthless” sexual predator when he assaulted six women over the course of a decade, a prosecutor said Wednesday as the rape and sexual assault case against the actor-comedian opened.
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 between 1999 and 2009.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors at Southwark Crown Court in London that the six women, who do not know each other, were assaulted by Brand in “a hotel room, workplaces, a toilet cubicle in a bar and at his home address.” She stated that Brand at the time had an “indiscriminate and voracious” desire for sexual contact, and “women were simply a means to an end.”
The prosecutor described Brand as someone who could be funny and charming, “a flirt with a huge sexual appetite — childlike in his expectation that his every desire should be met.” She added, “He was ruthless, he was calculating, he was manipulative. And, the prosecution say, he was a sexual predator.”
Alleged Incidents Detailed
Brand listened intently from the dock as the prosecutor described each of the alleged incidents. These include the earliest, in which Brand allegedly raped a woman in a hotel room during the Labour Party’s annual conference in 1999. Brand, then a rising stand-up comedian, was performing at the fringe of the conference in Bournemouth.
Two years later, another woman alleges, Brand attempted to drag her into the men’s bathroom at her workplace. The prosecutor stated, “There can be little doubt as to what Mr. Brand’s intention was.”
A third woman alleges that Brand orally raped her in 2004 in the restroom of a London bar, telling her “Don’t be a spoilsport” when she asked him to stop.
The prosecutor said other complainants include a woman who says Brand kissed and groped her at a London radio station in 2004 or 2005, leaving her feeling “dirty and disgusting.” Another, a then-21-year-old fan, alleges Brand anally raped her at his home after meeting him at a show in 2009. The fan reportedly exchanged text messages with Brand the following year, telling him: “You treated me like an animal.” He replied: “I’m sorry.”
The final complainant says Brand demanded a massage and pressed his face into her groin during the recording of an advertisement in 2009.
Karmy-Jones told the jury that none of the alleged victims reported the assaults at the time due to guilt, shame, and concern they would be blamed. They individually went to police after a 2023 television program broadcast anonymous claims against Brand. The prosecutor indicated that the jury would hear from the women later in the trial, stating, “I have no doubt you will find their evidence compelling.”
Early Testimony
The first witness, Mark Pinheiro, a former friend of Brand who accompanied him on the 1999 trip to Bournemouth, testified that the day after the alleged rape, Brand insisted they leave town abruptly and seemed “incredibly alert and incredibly afraid.” Pinheiro added, “Whenever a police siren passed the car, Russell would cower down behind the side window so he couldn’t be seen.”
Brand’s lawyer, Ian Winter, questioned Pinheiro’s recollection of events that occurred more than a quarter century ago. Brand denies all charges and, in police interviews, denied ever engaging in nonconsensual sexual activity.
Brand's Career and Public Image
Brand is on bail and arrived at court on Wednesday to a crowd of photographers and journalists, where he said 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 risque stand-up routines and past battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s, hosting television programs and his own BBC radio show. He also appeared in Hollywood films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek.” He was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry.
In recent years, Brand has shifted away from mainstream media, relocating to Florida and building a large online following with videos that blend wellness, conspiracy theories, and discussions of his religious devotion.