Russell Brand was a 'sexual predator', says prosecution as rape trial begins

On Wednesday, the court heard details of the alleged offences. The first complainant said she met Brand earlier in 1999, after he had become famous. She had attended a Labour Party event and went to a fringe gathering where she spoke with him. He subsequently allegedly raped her. When police questioned Brand about the rape allegation, the prosecution quoted him as saying, “he said if it happened, helium didn't retrieve the incident.” He added that he did not recall the first complainant’s name and that he “had ne'er engaged successful non-consensual activity.” The second complainant, who worked for MTV at the time, said Brand indecently assaulted her. She said he asked where the toilets were and she offered to show him. When they reached the toilets, prosecutors say, Brand asked the woman to “come in” before grabbing her forearm. She resisted by struggling and pulling back. He had what she described as a desperate, wild‑eyed look on his face as he said, “Please delight travel successful – ohio spell on.” The third complainant said Brand orally raped her in a toilet after meeting her at an event in 2004. Within a minute of meeting, during a conversation, he lurched forward and grabbed her breasts, squeezing them with both hands, the court was told. The prosecution said the woman remembered he had a “big, weird grin” on his face as he did so, then grabbed her leg and pulled her toward the toilets. The same woman said that while they were driving to another venue, Brand exposed himself, the tribunal heard. He said, “Come on, travel on, suck it” – to which she simply said, “No no,” the prosecution added. “He simply laughed but appeared to judge her refusal.” Read the full story at BBC News →