Russell Brand trial hears witness describe preoccupation with sex

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 12:20 · Archive

A former flatmate of Russell Brand has told his trial that sex was a 'huge preoccupation' for the entertainer.

Russell Brand, 51, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court facing three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault across a ten-year period between 1999 and 2009. He denies all charges. The allegations come from six female complainants.

On the third day of the trial, Andrew Dobson, who wrote music for a fringe event Brand appeared in at the Labour Party conference in 1999, gave evidence. Dobson, who later lived in a flat with Brand, told the jury the entertainer was a 'very vibrant character, very egotistical' and 'erratic'. He said 'sex was a huge preoccupation' for Brand and recalled nights when 'the pursuit of getting somebody in bed would be a preoccupation' for him.

Dobson was staying in a guesthouse in Bournemouth with Brand and other cast members. He told the court he did not recall Brand meeting any women there, but remembered Brand did not return to the guesthouse after the final night of the show. The next morning, Dobson said, there was a sudden atmosphere of 'panicked urgency' and the group left hastily. He recalled 'an almost panicked urgency', describing the departure as 'very hurried and rushed'. He also remembered 'charged prickly atmosphere' in the car on the drive back to London. One woman alleged Brand raped her in a hotel room in Bournemouth in 1999 after they met at the Labour Party conference.

How it is being reported

• Sex was 'huge preoccupation for Russell Brand', former flatmate tells trialThe 51-year-old faces three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, which he denies.BBC News · 16 Oct, 11:59
• Russell Brand arrives at court with wife for third day of rape and sexual assault trialRussell Brand denies three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one allegation of indecent assault between, said to have between 1999 and 2009The Mirror · 16 Oct, 09:59

In this story: Russell Brand · Andrew Dobson · Southwark Crown Court · Labour Party · Bournemouth · London

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem