Russell Brand Rape Accuser Says He Turned 'Monster-Like' After Making Her Take Half-Naked Photos, Court Hears

A woman has told Russell Brand's rape trial that he asked her to photograph him partially undressed before allegedly raping her in a Bournemouth hotel room in 1999. Jurors at Southwark Crown Court heard her recorded police account and her evidence under cross-examination on Thursday, 15 October.

Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving six women. He maintains that any sexual contact was consensual.

Photographs Shown to Jury

The complainant described meeting Brand at a cabaret event on the fringes of the Labour Party conference. She said she invited him to continue their conversation in her hotel room after he showed interest in her political ideas.

In her police interview, recorded in 2023, she said she had initially found him polite and attentive and believed she was sexually safe with him.

The woman told investigators that she went to the bathroom after suggesting Brand make tea or coffee. When she returned, she said, he was 'there in his briefs'.

She described him showing off and 'prancing around' before asking her to take pictures on her camera. The complainant said she became frightened as she complied.

Jurors were shown images of a topless Brand posing for the camera. The photographs were taken by the woman, who alleges that he subsequently attacked her.

'I took those photographs, he told me to take them,' she said.

Giving evidence in court, she described a sudden change in his behaviour.

'He just changed suddenly from this... camp, friendly and effeminate to monster-like,' she said.

'He was big, I felt threatened and he's half-naked... I didn't think at that point his intentions were good.'

Woman Describes Alleged Assault

In the recorded interview, the woman alleged that Brand pushed her onto the bed and removed her trousers and underwear. She said he then raped her and recalled his weight on her during the incident.

The complainant told officers that she knew she had said no and described being unable to fight him. Her account of refusing sexual contact formed part of the evidence played to the jury.

During cross-examination, Brand's barrister, Ian Winter KC, suggested that she had welcomed his attention and wanted to spend more time with him.

'I welcomed his company, not what followed,' she replied.

She also rejected the suggestion that she had 'fallen under his spell' or found him attractive.

The woman was challenged about why she had not reported the alleged attack to police in Bournemouth. She said she had not wanted anyone to know and had not thought she would be believed.

She was also questioned about the suggestion that she could have left the room. The complainant rejected that proposition while describing how frightened she had felt during the encounter.

Brand Denies All Charges

The court heard that Brand gave prepared statements to police denying the allegations and maintaining that he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.

Regarding the Bournemouth allegation, the prosecution said he had told police that he did not remember the incident or the complainant's name.

The wider trial concerns alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009 involving six female complainants. The Bournemouth hotel allegation is the first complainant's account being examined in the proceedings.

Brand denies all seven charges. The trial at Southwark Crown Court is expected to last six weeks, and the proceedings continue.