Russell Brand tells trial it was wrong to use fame to facilitate sex with women

British comedian and TV personality Russell Brand, 51, gave evidence on Wednesday at Southwark crown court in London, where he is on trial for rape and sexual assault. He admitted it was wrong to have used his fame and success to "facilitate" sexual activity with women, but denied every charge against him. The trial continues.

The charges

Brand faces seven offences against six women, with the alleged conduct spanning ten years from 1999. They include three counts of rape and three of sexual assault. On Tuesday, one allegation of indecent assault was changed to attempted indecent assault. Mr Justice Bennathan told jurors to find Brand not guilty on the indecent assault allegation, having concluded there was insufficient evidence to support it.

Evidence in the witness box

Brand spent about four hours in the witness box. Asked by his barrister, Ian Winter KC, whether he had raped women in a hotel room, at his home and in a bar toilet, or sexually assaulted radio and TV workers, he answered "no" each time. He said he was "innocent" and that consent is more important than sex itself and can be withdrawn at any point.

He said he had "misused" his position "very selfishly" and had devoted much of his life to "reckless philandering and idiocy". Brand told the jury he does not remember some of the incidents, and recalls only consensual encounters in others. He admitted saving one accuser's phone number with the letter "T" beside her name, which he said denoted casual hook-ups.

Under cross-examination, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC pointed to alleged inconsistencies in his earlier statements and read extracts from his 2007 book, My Booky Wook. Brand acknowledged that his recollection includes small inconsistent details. Asked whether he held a position of power over the women, he said he had been comfortable letting his fame "facilitate sexual access", which he agreed was wrong.

He blamed his downfall on 2023 media reports about alleged misconduct, which he said led to him being barred from visiting his baby son during heart surgery at Great Ormond Street hospital.