Fourth woman gives evidence in Russell Brand trial

Russell Brand's trial on rape and sexual assault charges is under way at Southwark Crown Court. The 51-year-old comedian, actor, presenter and podcaster faces seven charges: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one allegation of indecent assault. The allegations relate to six women and are said to have taken place between 1999 and 2009 in Bournemouth and London. Brand has pleaded not guilty and denies all the charges. He is on bail.

Brand arrived at court with his wife, Laura Gallacher, and was met by a large media presence. He told reporters he felt 'blessed' and 'concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved'. Prospective jurors were selected, and a jury of eight men and four women was later sworn in, with a reserve juror. The judge warned them not to research the case or discuss it outside the jury room. On the second day, the judge said the jury would not be shown a television documentary, Dispatches, about Brand because it would not be fair, although jurors would hear about it.

Opening the prosecution case, Riel Karmy-Jones KC described Brand as 'ruthless, calculated and manipulative' and as a sexual predator. She said his desire for sexual contact was 'indiscriminate and voracious' and that he had a childlike expectation that his every desire should be met. The court heard the six women did not know each other and had come forward independently. The prosecutor said some women protested and said no, while others had no opportunity to react.

The allegations set out in court cover a decade:

• In 1999, a woman attending a Labour Party conference fringe event in Bournemouth alleges Brand raped her in a hotel room after making her take topless photographs of him. She claims he said 'oh come on, come on, don't be a spoilsport' when she protested.
• In 2001, an MTV worker alleges Brand grabbed her forearm and tried to pull her towards a male toilet at a party.
• In 2004, a woman alleges Brand grabbed her breasts at a Soho bar and pulled her into a toilet, where she says he orally raped her.
• A radio station employee at Choice FM alleges Brand pushed her against a wall and groped her in 2004 or 2005.
• In 2009, a woman alleges Brand raped her after meeting him at his Scandalous tour gig at Hammersmith Apollo.
• In 2009, an employee at a television company alleges Brand sexually assaulted her at work by pressing his face deep into her groin.

The first prosecution witness, Brand's former flatmate Mark Piñero, told the court that Brand had spoken of wanting to sleep with 5,000 women. He recalled the 1999 Bournemouth trip, saying Brand told him to vacate the flat urgently and later said he might have 'gone a bit too far' with a woman. Brand's defence has not yet put its case.

On the second day, the jury was played a police video interview with the first complainant, known as Woman A. She alleged Brand raped her in a Bournemouth hotel room in 1999 after she met him at the Labour conference fringe. She said he made her take photographs of him and that she felt frightened. She told police, 'he raped me, basically, and I know that happened.' She said she came forward in 2023 after watching the Dispatches documentary. The court was shown topless photographs of Brand said to have been taken that night. Under cross-examination from Ian Winter KC, the woman denied that she had been persuaded into a one-night stand or that she had let rape happen. She said Brand changed from 'camp and friendly' to 'monster-like'.

At one point inside the glass-walled dock, Brand, who has described himself as a born-again Christian, knelt on one knee in a prayer-like pose. He watched the evidence from the dock, looking straight ahead for much of the hearing.

In the second week, a third complainant told the court she closed her eyes and tried not to be there during an alleged sexual assault at a Soho bar in 2004. Brand's defence says that encounter was consensual and has been 'reimagined'. A fourth woman then gave evidence that Brand sexually assaulted her while she worked at Choice FM, saying he 'just leapt on her' after she left a room. Brand denies all the allegations.

The trial is expected to last around six weeks, with earlier estimates of up to ten weeks. Brand's defence case is expected later. He has consistently denied the allegations and says he has never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.