A woman has alleged Russell Brand told her “it’s just fun” as he raped her in a hotel room at the 1999 Labour party conference, a court has heard. The alleged victim told detectives the comedian made her feel sick and dirty as he assaulted her despite her pleading: “Get off me, please stop. It hurts.” Brand faces three charges of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women, in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999 to 2009.
He denies all the charges and has pleaded not guilty. The 51-year-old fixed his gaze on one of the TV screens at Southwark crown court on Thursday as a video of the woman’s interview from 27 September 2023 was played. She told police she met Brand at a fringe cabaret event that he was performing in during the Labour party conference in Bournemouth in 1999.
She was not attracted to the then unknown performer, whom she assumed was gay and showered her with compliments. But she found him polite and intelligent, and the pair spoke about their work before going back to her hotel room to continue their conversation. The woman said she “froze” in the run-down single room when she returned from the toilet to find that Brand was partly naked and “prancing around” like an ostrich.
He also asked her to take photographs of him. She said she asked him why he had undressed, and he told her: “Don’t worry, I’m mostly naked at home.” She told police he then raped her in an attack that lasted up to 10 minutes and left her feeling frightened, in pain, and like she couldn’t breathe. I kind of drifted out of my head.
I couldn’t get out of the situation – ‘do I shout, do I scream?’ He was very heavy, I couldn’t breathe, it didn’t take long.” She described his body as snake-like and “disgusting” and said his tongue was “horrible” like a lizard. I know he was touching me, I know he grabbed my breasts. I know he tried to kiss me and I moved my neck.
I didn’t want his mouth on mine,” she told police. It was not nice, it was painful and it hurt.” She said she closed her eyes during the attack and hoped it would be over quickly. She recalled: “He was making noises, a lot of noises of enjoyment and saying how pretty I was.
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