Jury retires in Russell Brand's rape trial as the judge says it must reach unanimous verdicts on all seven charges

Russell Brand, 51, faces seven charges — three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault — covering alleged incidents involving six women across a decade from 1999 to 2009. Following a three-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, the twelve-person jury — comprising eight men and four women — withdrew on Tuesday to consider its verdicts, with Mr Justice Bennathan directing that all counts require unanimity. Brand, who attended throughout alongside his wife Laura Gallacher, denies all charges and remains on bail.

Prosecutors depicted Brand as a "ruthless, calculated and manipulative" predator who saw women as a "disposable commodity" and whose personality shifted "from charming to frightening to nasty."

Defence barrister Ian Winter KC told jurors it is "not criminal to treat women unkindly" or "act like a crazy idiot" if there is consent, and argued the 2023 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary had "poisoned the well of justice" by prompting the women to go to police.

Brand admitted during evidence he had been "obsessed" with sex and used his fame to "facilitate sexual access", but insisted every encounter was consensual.