UK Prosecutor Calls Russell Brand ‘Ruthless Sexual Predator’ As Sex Assault Trial Opens

British comedian and actor Russell Brand acted as a “ruthless” sexual predator while allegedly assaulting six women over a decade, a prosecutor told a London court on Wednesday as his rape and sexual assault trial 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 relate to alleged offences involving six women between 1999 and 2009.

Opening the prosecution’s case at Southwark Crown Court, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors that the women, who did not know one another, were allegedly assaulted at locations including a hotel room, workplaces, a bar toilet cubicle and Brand’s home.

Karmy-Jones said Brand had an “indiscriminate and voracious” appetite for sexual contact at the time, adding that “women were simply a means to an end”.

“He was ruthless, he was calculating, he was manipulative. And, the prosecution say, he was a sexual predator,” she told the jury.

Six Women’s Allegations Against Russell Brand

The earliest allegation dates to 1999, when Brand was accused of raping a woman in a hotel room during the Labour Party’s annual conference in Bournemouth, where he was performing at a fringe cabaret event.

Another woman alleges that in 2001, Brand tried to drag her into a men’s bathroom at the office building where she worked.

A third complainant alleges that Brand raped her in a London bar restroom in 2004, telling her “Don’t be a spoilsport” when she asked him to stop.

The remaining allegations include claims that Brand kissed and groped a woman at a London radio station in 2004 or 2005, and raped a 21-year-old fan at his home in 2009 after she met him at one of his shows.

According to the prosecution, the fan later exchanged text messages with Brand, telling him, “You treated me like an animal.” He replied, “I’m sorry,” the court was told.

The sixth woman alleges that Brand demanded a massage and pressed his face into her groin while an advertisement was being recorded in 2009.

Karmy-Jones said none of the women reported the alleged incidents at the time because of feelings of guilt and shame and concerns that they would be blamed. They approached police individually after a television programme aired anonymous allegations against Brand in 2023.

The prosecutor said jurors would hear directly from the women during the trial.

Former Friend Testifies About 1999 Incident

The first witness, Mark Pinheiro, a former friend of Brand, told the court that he accompanied the comedian on the 1999 trip to Bournemouth.

Pinheiro said Brand insisted they leave the town abruptly the day after the alleged rape and appeared “incredibly alert and incredibly afraid”.

He also told the court that Brand would crouch down in the car whenever a police siren passed, so that he could not be seen.

Brand’s lawyer, Ian Winter, questioned Pinheiro’s recollection of events that took place more than 25 years ago.

Brand has denied all the charges. During police interviews, he denied ever engaging in non-consensual sexual activity.

The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks.

Russell Brand’s Career And Move To Online Media

Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s through provocative stand-up comedy, television appearances and a BBC radio show. He later appeared in Hollywood films, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry.

In recent years, he has moved away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and developed a substantial online following through videos covering wellness, conspiracy theories and his religious beliefs.

Brand, who is on bail, arrived at court on Wednesday amid a crowd of photographers and video journalists. He said he felt “blessed” and expressed hope that the legal process would produce positive outcomes for everyone involved.

The Associated Press does not identify alleged victims of sexual violence. British law also protects their identities from media disclosure for life.