Russell Brand Gives Evidence in London Rape Trial and Denies All Charges

British comedian and former presenter Russell Brand has given evidence in his own defence at Southwark Crown Court in London. Brand, 51, faces three charges of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault against six women, in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999. He denies all the charges.

The trial began on October 12 with widespread media coverage. In its third week, Brand spent four hours in the witness box on Wednesday and told the jury the criminal case had been a 'deeply traumatic episode' in his life.

Brand blamed his public fall from grace on 2023 media reports, including a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, about his alleged sexual misconduct. He said he had achieved 'staggering fame' after his marriage to the US pop star Katy Perry, but that now nobody would 'touch [him] with a bargepole'.

The prosecutor, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, suggested he had not been 'abandoned' by everyone he knows and noted he had millions of followers online. 'This is not the case of poor Mr Brand being taken apart by the media,' she said.

Brand denied her suggestion that consent had not been 'uppermost' in his mind between 1999 and 2009, telling the court: 'Consent is absolutely non-negotiable.' He said he was 'innocent' of all the charges and added that consent is 'fundamental, essential, necessary and, indeed, in many ways more important than sex itself.'

Brand did admit he was wrong to have used his fame and success to 'facilitate' sexual activity with women. 'I think I was in a position of fame, a successful person who was admired, and I misused that commodity very selfishly,' he said.

Brand's wife, Laura, began her evidence on Thursday. She confirmed she is the TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher's sister, and that they are the daughters of the Ryder Cup-winning golfer Bernard Gallacher.

Laura told the court she and Brand fell in love after meeting in 2006, but that he had cheated on her early in their relationship. She said she was not interested in a relationship if he was sleeping with other people; both had told each other they loved each other, but it was clear it was difficult for him to be monogamous. They broke up in February 2007, restarted their relationship in 2015 and married two years later. Laura insisted he was a 'wonderful father' and an 'amazingly attentive husband.'