Russell Brand trial hears allegation of assault in Soho bar

Summarised from 6 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 19 Oct, 13:38 · Archive

Russell Brand is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a London bar in 2004 within a minute of meeting her.

Russell Brand, 51, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court facing three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges relate to allegations made by six women spanning a ten-year period from 1999 to 2009. Brand denies all the charges.

A woman, the third complainant to give evidence, has told the court of an alleged assault at Nordic Bar in Soho in July 2004. She said she was attending a birthday party at the bar when she struck up a conversation with Brand, who was then hosting the Channel 4 show Big Brother's Big Mouth. She told police she was excited to meet him after watching the show.

According to the woman's recorded police interview, played to jurors on Monday, Brand grabbed her breasts without warning within a minute of starting to talk to her. She described the moment in detail: '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 said she was completely in shock and asked him, 'What the hell are you doing? I've literally just met you.'

The woman alleged that Brand then grabbed her arm and dragged her into a toilet cubicle. She told police the floor was flooded. Inside the cubicle, she said Brand climbed on the toilet seat, unzipped his trousers and forced her to perform oral sex. She alleged he repeatedly urged her to comply, telling her 'don't be a spoilsport' and 'come on, come on' as she protested. She said the assault was swift and left her in disbelief and shock. 'I just closed my eyes and tried not to be there,' she told officers.

Describing his facial expression, the woman said Brand had 'a big grin and it was like a clown' with 'that sort of weird look in the eye'. She said she was shaking and felt numb after the alleged assault.

The woman worked for MTV at the time. She told a producer friend about the incident a few days later, describing Brand as 'a sexual predator'. When MTV rehired Brand as a presenter around 2006, she said she was 'absolutely appalled'. She told police that whenever she knew he was in the building, she would refuse to attend events or parties where he might be present. 'If I knew where he was, I would just avoid,' she said.

Brand, who attended court in a grey suit accompanied by his wife Laura Gallacher, sat still and upright in the dock as the woman's police interview was played to the jury. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and says all his sexual encounters were consensual.

How it is being reported

• Russell Brand had 'clown-like' grin during alleged sex attack in toilet cubicle, court toldA woman who claims Russell Brand raped her in a toilet cubicle said he had a “weird, maniacal grin…like a clown” when he allegedly grabbed her breasts at a bar in Soho, central London. A video of a police interview with the woman was played at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. Jurors heard the alleged attack took place at a birthday party in Nordic Bar, Soho, during the summer of 2004. The woman says she told Mr Brand, who was hosting Big Brother’s spin-off show Big Mouth at the time, “I really like Big Brother... I think you’re really funny on it” while they were standing at the bar.…GB News · 19 Oct, 13:28
• Russell Brand had ‘maniacal grin’ as he dragged woman into toilet and raped her, court toldComedian, who is on trial at Southwark crown court, allegedly sexually assaulted woman within minute of meeting her Russell Brand had a “weird maniacal” grin on his face like a clown when he grabbed a woman’s breasts before dragging her into a toilet and raping her, a court has heard. The 51-year-old comedian is accused of orally raping the MTV worker as he told her: “You want to do this,” and: “Come on, don’t be a spoilsport.” Continue reading...The Guardian · 19 Oct, 13:03
• Woman says she 'closed eyes and tried not to be there' during alleged Russell Brand rapeThe 51-year-old faces three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.BBC News · 19 Oct, 12:55
• Russell Brand had ‘big grin’ as he grabbed woman’s breasts and dragged her into toilet and raped her, woman claimsThe comedian denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assaultThe Independent · 19 Oct, 12:48
• Russell Brand looked ‘like a clown’ after alleged sex attack in Soho bar, jury toldFormer MTV worker says she was ‘absolutely appalled’ when the comedian was later hired by the broadcasterEvening Standard · 19 Oct, 12:41
• Russell Brand rape accuser ‘appalled’ when star rehired as TV presenterThe woman told police she was ‘absolutely appalled’ when MTV rehired Brand in around 2006 as a presenter.Evening Standard · 19 Oct, 12:37
• Russell Brand told woman ‘don’t be a spoilsport’ before Soho bar rape, court hears'It happened so fast, he pulled me over.’Metro · 19 Oct, 12:02
• Russell Brand ‘had maniacal grin during Soho bar sexual assault’The former actor is accused of groping a woman’s breasts before dragging her into a toilet to perform a sex act.Evening Standard · 19 Oct, 11:49

In this story: Russell Brand · Southwark Crown Court · Nordic Bar · Soho · MTV · Channel 4 · Laura Gallacher

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