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LONDON — Russell Brand walked into court this week facing accusations that he used his fame to target and sexually abuse women. On the opening day of his trial, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors the 51-year-old comedian was a “ruthless, calculating and manipulative” sexual predator. Brand has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The alleged offences date from 1999 to 2009 and involve six women.
The case is being heard at Southwark Crown Court, one of the most serious criminal courts in London. Karmy-Jones said the six women did not know one another, and their alleged experiences took place in a range of settings — a hotel room, workplaces, the toilet of a bar, and Brand’s own home. The prosecutor described the comedian as charming and funny, but claimed his sexual appetite at the time was “indiscriminate and voracious.” In her opening address, she said that for Brand, “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,” Karmy-Jones told the jury. The prosecutor acknowledged that Brand could come across as playful, but argued that this charm formed part of the pattern. She described him as “a flirt with a huge sexual appetite — childlike in his expectation that his every desire should be met.”
The first allegation dates back to 1999. A woman claims Brand raped her in a hotel room in Bournemouth, where he was performing at a fringe cabaret event during the Labour Party’s annual conference. Mark Pinheiro, a former friend who accompanied Brand on that trip, became the first witness to testify. He told the court that the pair left Bournemouth suddenly the morning after the alleged incident. Pinheiro said Brand seemed “incredibly alert and incredibly afraid” and would duck down behind the side window whenever a police siren passed the car. Under cross-examination, defence lawyer Ian Winter suggested Pinheiro’s memory could not be trusted after more than 25 years.
Another woman alleges that in 2001 Brand tried to pull her into a men’s bathroom at the office building where she worked. Karmy-Jones said the court would hear evidence that it was obvious what Brand’s intention was at that moment.
A further accusation involves an alleged rape in a restroom at a London bar in 2004. According to the prosecutor, when the woman asked Brand to stop, he told her, “Don’t be a spoilsport.”
Two more incidents allegedly took place in 2004 or 2005. One woman claims that Brand kissed and groped her at a London radio station, leaving her feeling “dirty and disgusting.” Another complainant, then 21, alleges that Brand anally raped her at his home in 2009 after she met him at one of his shows. Karmy-Jones told the court that the woman later texted Brand: “You treated me like an animal.” He allegedly replied: “I’m sorry.”
The final complainant claims Brand demanded a massage and pressed his face into her groin while an advertisement was being recorded in 2009.
The prosecutor explained that none of the six women reported the alleged assaults at the time. Karmy-Jones said they were held back by guilt and shame, along with a fear that they would be blamed. They independently came forward to police after a television programme in 2023 broadcast anonymous allegations against Brand. The prosecution’s case will not rely solely on the documentary, however. Karmy-Jones told the jury that the six women will testify directly, adding: “I have no doubt you will find their evidence compelling.”
Brand has denied every charge since the allegations became public. During police interviews, he insisted that he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. Outside court this week, he told reporters that he felt “blessed” and said he hoped the legal process would lead to “good outcomes for everybody involved.” He added: “That’s my prayer.” His lawyer has signalled that the defence will test the credibility of the accusations, some of which date back more than two decades.
The trial centres on events during a period when Brand was becoming one of Britain’s most recognisable performers. Known for provocative stand-up comedy and his very public battles with drugs and alcohol, he rose to fame in the early 2000s through television 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 built a large online following through videos about wellness, conspiracy theories and religion.
Legal experts following the case note that the prosecution faces a challenging task because of the time elapsed and the nature of the allegations. Under English law, Brand is presumed innocent unless and until the jury finds him guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The burden of proof rests entirely with the Crown Prosecution Service, and the defence does not have to prove anything.
This trial is one of the highest-profile UK celebrity sexual offence cases in recent years, arriving as police forces across Britain have re-examined historical reports against public figures. Observers say the case could hinge on how believable the six women are in testimony and how well each of them withstands cross-examination. The identities of the complainants are protected by court order, and reporting restrictions mean that details cannot be published beyond what the judge has allowed.
Proceedings are expected to continue for several weeks, with jurors hearing evidence from each woman in turn. The judge has reminded the jury that the allegations are not proof, and that they must assess all of the evidence calmly and fairly. For now, the central question is whether the stories shared in court amount to a pattern of predatory behaviour — or whether the defence can raise enough doubt to secure an acquittal.
