Russell Brand denies rape and assault charges while stressing consent at Southwark Crown Court

What Happened

Russell Brand, 51, faced three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault at Southwark Crown Court. Six women alleged the offences occurred between 1999 and 2009. Brand denied every charge.

Defence

In his Wednesday testimony Brand said consent is "fundamental, essential, necessary and more important than sex itself." He called the allegations "deeply traumatic" and said they harmed his marriage, children and health. Brand admitted he had once been "comfortable" using his fame to gain sexual access and called that wrong. He rejected the prosecutor’s suggestion that he would go to any lengths to obtain sex, answering "absolutely no." He acknowledged that his recollection contains small inconsistencies because the events have been traumatic. He described himself as persuasive, seductive and flirtatious, and said many consensual encounters have caused harm. Defence barrister Ian Winter KC asked Brand to answer each indictment question, and Brand replied "no" each time. He said the Channel 4 documentary and media coverage devastated his relationships and that he could not stay with his son at Great Ormond Street Hospital during the child’s heart surgery because the press barred his attendance.

Context

In UK law consent must be clear and ongoing for any sexual activity. A lack of consent is the key element in rape and sexual-assault offences, making the issue central to the trial.