A trial is underway at Southwark Crown Court involving Russell Brand, the 51-year-old comedian, actor, and podcaster, who faces multiple charges of sexual offences spanning a decade. The case includes three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one of indecent assault, brought by six women alleged to have been victimised between 1999 and 2009. Brand denies all the charges.

During proceedings, one of the women gave detailed testimony concerning an alleged rape incident in 1999, shortly before Brand gained widespread fame. She described meeting Brand at a cabaret show he was performing on the fringe of the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth and inviting him to her hotel room to continue a political conversation, based on the belief that he was gay. The woman testified that Brand, then 24, playfully pulled her ponytail at the event and appeared effeminate and softly spoken, which initially made her feel safe.

Once inside the hotel room, the woman recounted that Brand partially undressed while she was in the bathroom and instructed her to photograph him topless. She described his behaviour as playful and reminiscent of a comic character, “like Basil Fawlty,” prancing around and kicking his legs up. The jury was shown several photographs she took, including one of Brand blowing kisses to the camera while wearing white trousers.

However, the woman said the atmosphere rapidly changed when Brand’s demeanour turned “monster-like” and intimidating. She described feeling threatened by his size and half-naked state as he pinned her down on the bed despite her repeated refusals. She testified that she felt like a “zombie” during the assault and did not consent to sex, emphasising that she had not gone to the room seeking a sexual encounter. The woman described Brand’s body as “snake-like” and “disgusting” and said his behaviour caused her shame, self-blame, and nightmares afterwards.

In a video police interview played to the jury, she recounted closing her eyes and trying to “stay strong” during the alleged attack, remembering Brand asking if she was enjoying it and telling her to “let yourself enjoy it” and not to worry about shame or reputation. She also told police she believed Brand was reckless and callous, raping her “without thinking how much it hurt” and dismissing her requests to stop.

Under cross-examination, Brand’s defence lawyer suggested the encounter was consensual and questioned why the woman did not push Brand away or leave the room. The woman responded that she did not want sex and felt powerless. She also stated that she did not report the incident to police at the time due to shame and fear of disbelief.

The presiding judge informed the jury about a 2023 documentary broadcast in which several women anonymously accused Brand of sexual misconduct. The judge explained that those allegations have never been tested in court, and that Brand had denied them robustly at the time. The woman testified that seeing the programme prompted her to come forward and that she believed Brand was manipulative and aware of his actions.

Brand arrived at court stating he felt “most blessed,” while his wife, Laura Gallacher, was not present. The trial is ongoing.