Russell Brand trial hears assault allegation from 2004

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 12:31 · Archive

Russell Brand denies allegations of sexual assault at a London bar in 2004.

Russell Brand, 51, a former British comedian and actor, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court. He faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one allegation of indecent assault. He denies all the charges and maintains all sexual encounters were consensual.

A woman in her 20s, who was working for MTV at the time, gave a recorded police interview describing an alleged assault at Nordic Bar in Soho in 2004. She said that within a minute of meeting Brand at a birthday party, he groped her breasts without consent. She told police: 'He literally just grabbed my boobs, out of nowhere, just in the middle of a conversation and I just remember this weird maniacal grin, looming in front of me as he just grabbed my boobs.' She alleged Brand then told her 'don't be a spoilsport' while forcing her to perform oral sex in a toilet cubicle.

The woman said she was shocked by the encounter, having been excited to meet Brand. Her police interview was played at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. In it, she described Brand as looking 'like a clown, (with) that sort of weird look in the eye' after the alleged assault.

How it is being reported

• Brand had 'maniacal grin' during alleged sexual assaultFormer actor Russell Brand is accused of groping a woman's breasts before dragging her into a toilet to perform a sex act.The West Australian · 19 Oct, 12:20
• Brand had 'maniacal grin' during alleged sexual assaultFormer actor Russell Brand is accused of groping a woman's breasts before dragging her into a toilet to perform a sex act.Perth Now · 19 Oct, 12:20

In this story: Russell Brand · Southwark Crown Court · Nordic Bar · Soho · MTV

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