Russell Brand gives evidence in rape and sexual assault trial – latest updates
Brand, 51, has been charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault Winter is asking Brand about the first alleged complainant, a woman who alleged she was raped by the comedian after meeting him on the fringes of the Labour party conference in Bournemouth in 1999. Brand told the court she had invited him to her hotel room, and that he “thought at the bare minimum it’s better than sleeping in shared accommodation” with his team, and that he “hoped and thought that there was a possibility of sex”.
The defence is to begin presenting its case in Russell Brand’s trial at Southwark crown court, where he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault against six women.
The prosecution’s case has drawn to a close after nearly two weeks of evidence, with the jury to hear from the defence today.
In yesterday’s hearing, the jury was told by the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, that the indecent assault charge against Brand has been amended to attempted indecent assault. It relates to an allegation that Brand grabbed a female MTV worker by the arm and tried to drag her into a toilet. Bennathan told jurors he had reached the conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge of indecent assault.
The court also heard Brand was interviewed by police on four occasions – in November and December 2023, January 2024 and July 2025. Brand’s pre-prepared statement to police in November 2023 was read out in court by the prosecutor, Riel Karmy-Jones.
In it, he said: “As I have repeatedly stated publicly and written about extensively, I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I have spent years openly denouncing.
“I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.”
Brand, 51, has been charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault, in allegations dating between 1999 and 2009. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
We will be bringing you live updates throughout the day as the trial continues.
Winter asked Brand if he got consent from the first alleged complainant when he had sex with her. Brand told the court: “Consent is fundamental, essential, necessary and, indeed, in many ways more important than sex itself.”
He said there was “no question in my mind” that he got consent from the woman “because of the talking and the intimacy”.
Winter is asking Brand about the first alleged complainant, a woman who alleged she was raped by the comedian after meeting him on the fringes of the Labour party conference in Bournemouth in 1999.
Brand told the court she had invited him to her hotel room, and that he “thought at the bare minimum it’s better than sleeping in shared accommodation” with his team, and that he “hoped and thought that there was a possibility of sex”.
Brand told the court that around the time of the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, which reported the allegations as part of an investigation with the Times and the Sunday Times, his baby son had to have open heart surgery at the Great Ormond Street hospital in London.
He told jurors that the hospital refused to let him stay with his son “due to the materials published”.
Brand said his life has been “consumed by the impact of the allegations”.
Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter, began by going through the indictment and asking him if he committed the offences, to which he replied “no” to each.
Shortly after the prosecution concluded its case this morning, Brand took to the stand to give evidence as the defence begins.
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