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'Beyond reckless philandering': Russell Brand admits misusing his fame for sex but insists consent is 'fundamental' at rape trial

Russell Brand told jurors he had saved one alleged victim's number under the letter "T" — standing for "tart" — as he denied all seven charges brought by six women.
Russell Brand told jurors he had saved one alleged victim's number under the letter "T" — standing for "tart" — as he denied all seven charges brought by six women.

Russell Brand, 51, pleaded with jurors for 'forgiveness' at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, acknowledging he had exploited his fame to pursue sexual relationships while firmly denying all seven charges against him. His defence took just one day, concluding Thursday morning after he spent more than four hours giving evidence. Brand's wife Laura Gallacher watched from the public gallery as the judge described consent as 'the million dollar question'.

Not a single friend or former colleague was willing to appear as a character witness for Brand — 'would they touch you with a barge pole?' his barrister asked; Brand replied: 'No.'

Brand had saved a complainant's number with the letter 'T' next to her name, which stood for 'tart', the court was told.

Brand told the court that the 2023 allegations had prevented him from being at his baby son's side during open-heart surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

MoreDaily MailJAN MOIR: Brand padded across the carpet and took the oath at volumeEvening StandardFive biggest bombshells as Russell Brand gives evidence in rape trialBBC News - LondonRussell Brand tells trial sexual consent is 'fundamental'LBC'Consent is the million dollar question', judge tells Russell Brand as comedian admits he 'dedicated' a lot of his life to 'philandering'The IndependentGiving evidence, Brand said he rose to ‘staggering fame’ but ‘misused’ it for sexThe IndependentIn four hours of tense evidence, Russell Brand told jurors he rose to ‘staggering fame’ but ‘misused’ it for sexDaily Mail AURussell Brand begs jurors for 'forgiveness' in rape trial as he says he dedicated his life to 'beyond reckless philandering'Toronto SunRussell Brand tells sex assault trial 'consent is fundamental'ReutersRussell Brand says friends abandoned him after 'devastating' sex crime allegationsThe GuardianFrom sex ‘obsession’ to losing friends, key takeaways from Russell Brand’s testimony at trialEvening StandardRussell Brand admits he was ‘wrong’ to use fame in pursuit of sexAPRussell Brand denies all charges as he takes the stand at his rape and sex assault trial
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