Russell Brand's ex-assistant testifies of poor treatment of women

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

Russell Brand's former personal assistant told his rape trial that he mistreated women and used social media to find them for sex.

Helen Berger, who worked as Russell Brand's personal assistant from June 2006 to February 2007, has testified at Southwark Crown Court about witnessing the comedian's treatment of women. She told the court that Brand used online platforms including MySpace to find women for sex, describing him as a 'peacock' who had 'an insane sexual appetite'. Berger said she saw women being treated poorly during her time working for the comedian, who was then a star of MTV, Channel 4 and the BBC.

Berger gave evidence that Brand found random women online and was 'sleeping with people day and night', though she noted that sex often made him depressed. She recalled him joking 'May I go and have sex now?' when working on deadlines. She described an incident when Brand conducted an interview with actress Sadie Frost while dressed only in his pants and an open robe, saying he regularly walked around his Camden flat in his underwear with no shirt on.

Berger told the court she quit working for Brand when she became 'sick of him', stating that the normalisation of his behaviour by those around him was 'on another level' compared to other celebrities she had worked with. She said she worked for Brand through his agent John Noel.

How it is being reported

• Brand treated women poorly, ex-personal assistant saysA woman who worked as Russell Brand's personal assistant 20 years ago has told a court the comedian used MySpace to find women for sex.Perth Now · 26 Oct, 17:27
• Brand treated women poorly, ex-personal assistant saysA woman who worked as Russell Brand's personal assistant 20 years ago has told a court the comedian used MySpace to find women for sex.The West Australian · 26 Oct, 17:27

In this story: Russell Brand · Helen Berger · Sadie Frost · John Noel · Southwark Crown Court · MySpace · Camden · London

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