Russell Brand on trial over alleged 2001 MTV toilet assault

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 16 Oct, 14:58 · Archive

Russell Brand grabbed an MTV worker's arm and tried to pull her into a toilet in 2001, a court heard.

Russell Brand tried to drag a former MTV worker into a toilet for a sexual encounter in 2001, Southwark Crown Court heard. The woman said Brand grabbed her arm and pleaded with her to join him in the men's toilet, pulling her towards the bathroom. She told jurors she managed to wrench herself free.

The incident occurred after the woman and Brand had a brief conversation at MTV's London office about his 'I am Spartacus' t-shirt. When Brand asked for directions to the men's toilets, she showed him the way. She described his demeanour as 'affable' and 'jovial' at first, but said it 'suddenly turned into this wild-eyed maniac trying to pull me into the toilet'.

When questioned why she did not report the incident to police or her bosses at the time, she said Brand was 'one of the big assets at MTV' and she had a mortgage to pay. 'It would have been my word against his, I had a job to consider, I came away relatively unscathed, and he didn't rape me,' she said. 'I managed to get myself out of the situation and I wanted a quiet life.'

Brand is on trial accused of three rapes, three sexual assaults and an allegation of indecent assault involving six different women between 1999 and 2009. He denies all charges.

How it is being reported

• MTV worker says ‘wild-eyed maniac’ Russell Brand tried to drag her into toiletsRussell Brand arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London for his trial on rape and sexual assault charges (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock) Russell Brand turned into a ‘wild-eyed maniac’ when he tried to drag an MTV worker into a toilet for a sexual encounter, his rape trial heard today. The…Metro · 16 Oct, 14:37
• Russell Brand became ‘wild-eyed maniac’ as he tried to pull woman into toilet, jury toldFormer MTV worker tells court she had to wrench herself free from the comedianEvening Standard · 16 Oct, 14:26
• Russell Brand was ‘wild-eyed maniac’ who tried to drag TV worker into toiletA woman said Brand grabbed her arm and pleaded with her to join him in the men’s toilet as she pulled back and managed to ‘wrench’ herself free.Evening Standard · 16 Oct, 13:53

In this story: Russell Brand · MTV · Southwark Crown Court · London

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