RUSSELL BRAND DENIES SEVEN CHARGES AT RAPE TRIAL

Russell Brand denied seven charges as he gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday. He faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault. Six women accuse him of offences dating from 1999 to 2009. His barrister, Ian Winter KC, put each charge to him, and Brand answered “no” each time. Brand told jurors that the allegations had been “devastating”.

Winter asked whether anyone with relevant evidence had agreed to testify for Brand. Brand said he had been unable to persuade a single person to give evidence on his behalf. When Winter asked whether friends and former colleagues would “touch you with a barge pole”, Brand replied: “No.” Brand also told the court that he had used his fame to “facilitate sexual access”. He described his past conduct as “beyond reckless philandering and idiocy” and said it was wrong.

The allegations became public in 2023 through newspaper reporting and a Channel 4 documentary. Police investigated for three years before the trial, according to the account given in court. Brand began his evidence after jurors had heard allegations against him for almost a fortnight. He completed his evidence in one day, and the defence case was due to conclude on Thursday morning.