Topless Brand is photographed by his alleged rape victim moments before the hotel attack, court hears
Russell Brand, who denies three counts of rape among seven charges, allegedly told one accuser she would "have to learn to enjoy it" — a phrase she said left her wondering: "Is this what abusers do?
The first woman to give evidence at Russell Brand's rape trial broke down in tears at Southwark Crown Court, telling jurors she was "like a zombie on the bed" as Brand allegedly raped her after a fringe cabaret show at the 1999 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth. The 51-year-old comedian denies three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women across allegations spanning 1999 to 2009. Topless photographs of Brand taken by the accuser in her hotel room were shown to the jury, alongside a video of her 2023 police interview.
The woman said Brand, whom she had assumed was gay, transformed from "camp and friendly and effeminate to monster-like" moments before the alleged attack.
She told the court he demanded she photograph him semi-naked, then pushed her onto the bed, telling her "it's normal, enjoy it, enjoy it" as she said 'no'.
Defence barrister Ian Winter KC suggested Brand "persuaded" her to have sex and she regretted it — she replied: "I regret to this day the error in judgment that this man manipulated me into."
