Woman tells Russell Brand trial he was a wild-eyed maniac at MTV

Russell Brand trial hears MTV assault allegation

At Southwark Crown Court, the trial of Russell Brand has continued with evidence from a second complainant, who alleges he indecently assaulted her at MTV in 2001. Brand, 51, faces seven charges: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. Six women are involved. He denies all charges and says any sexual contact was consensual.

The woman, who worked at MTV when Brand was a flagship presenter, told the jury from behind a screen that the encounter began when he asked where the bathrooms were on their floor. She offered to show him. She said his demeanour then changed. She alleges he grabbed her forearm firmly and tried to pull her into the men's toilet, saying, 'come in, come in with me'. She said she replied, 'what are you doing, are you mad, let me go'. He then pleaded with her, she said, 'please come in, do come in', and she described him as having a wild look in his eyes. She said he turned from jovial to a 'wild-eyed maniac'. She wrenched her arm free. She told the court the encounter lasted around 20 seconds and that she got away because she was strong, adding that the outcome could have been very different. She said she did not report it at the time because she thought it would be his word against hers and she had a mortgage to pay.

Under cross-examination, Brand's defence barrister, Ian Winter KC, suggested the episode was an invitation to a consensual encounter and that it was a short-lived, minor incident. The woman rejected that, saying being grabbed was not an invitation. She said the intent was there and it could have been very different. The defence also suggested her account changed after a 2023 Channel 4 documentary revealed other allegations against Brand. She denied that. The prosecution's case is expected to last several weeks.

Brand arrived at court with his wife, Laura Gallacher. In the dock, he held prayer beads at times. Outside court he said: 'Obviously it's an extraordinary and stressful situation but it is also an exploration of truth and justice and as I've said before, I pray for everybody involved.' He added that it was 'very, very sad' but hoped it could bring conclusions.

Earlier in the trial, the first complainant gave evidence about an alleged rape in a Bournemouth hotel room after the 1999 Labour Party conference. She said she met Brand at the conference, where he was performing in a satirical show. She invited him to her room because she thought it was work and believed he was gay and sexually safe. She alleged that when she came out of the bathroom he was partly naked, pushed her on the bed and raped her. She told the jury she said no and that he was heavy, that she felt she could not breathe and could not push him away. She described feeling like a zombie and thinking 'the quicker this is over, the better'. She said she did not report it until 2023 because she felt ashamed and thought no one would believe her. The jury was shown photographs she said Brand had asked her to take of him. A defence barrister put it to her that she had not struggled or said no and that Brand had persuaded her; she rejected that. The prosecution asked her directly if she said no, and she said she did.

A former colleague, Andrew Dobson, also gave evidence. He described Brand as vibrant, egotistical, lively, demanding and persuading, and said sex was a huge preoccupation for him. He recalled an atmosphere of panicked urgency when Brand wanted to leave the hotel at the time of the 1999 conference. Photographs of Brand in a cow-pattern costume from the cabaret show were released after proceedings.

The trial continues.