Comedian and actor Russell Brand has appeared at Southwark Crown Court as his trial over alleged sexual offences involving six women continues, with jurors beginning to hear evidence from the first complainant.
The allegations relate to incidents said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009. Brand faces three counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault.
During proceedings on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the court heard a recording of a police interview with the first complainant, who reported her allegation in September 2023. The woman told investigators that a television investigation into Brand’s alleged behaviour had prompted her to revisit her own experience and report it to police.
Brand denies the allegations previously made against him, and the charges before the court must be determined through the trial.
First Complainant Describes Her Allegation to Police
Jurors heard a pre-recorded interview conducted on September 27, 2023, in which the first complainant described what she alleges happened in 1999.
The woman told a detective constable that Brand had raped her, explaining that she had questioned how to understand the alleged incident at the time because she had regarded what happened as normal.
She said she had second-guessed herself over whether the experience constituted rape before eventually deciding to report it.
The court had previously heard that the woman allegedly met Brand at a cabaret show held on the fringes of the Labour Party conference in 1999.
Her account forms part of the evidence the jury will consider as the prosecution presents its case.
Dispatches Documentary Prompted Woman to Come Forward
The complainant told police that the 2023 Dispatches documentary about allegations of sexual misconduct involving Brand influenced her decision to report her own allegation.
She explained that she had considered whether to watch the programme or report her experience first, and said she also consulted a journalist friend.
After watching the documentary, she said she recognised what she viewed as similarities between the behaviour described in the programme and her own experience, although the circumstances were different.
The woman told police that watching the programme helped her reflect on what she alleges had happened to her.
Judge Rules Documentary Will Not Be Shown to Jury
The trial judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, has ruled that jurors will not watch the full 2023 Dispatches documentary during the proceedings.
The judge explained that the programme featured anonymous allegations that had not been tested in court. He said the jury was being informed about the documentary because some complainants in the current case came forward after seeing or hearing about it.
The prosecution may argue that the programme helps explain why the women reported alleged incidents many years after they occurred. The defence, meanwhile, may contend that the programme influenced how some complainants remembered historical sexual encounters.
The judge stressed that the allegations made by other women in the documentary must not be treated as supporting evidence for the prosecution’s case.
He also described the programme as having been made in a one-sided and dramatic manner, concluding that showing it in full could be unfair to the defendant.
Jury Told It Can Discuss Evidence but Must Keep an Open Mind
Jurors also sought clarification from the judge about whether they could discuss the evidence among themselves and how they should organise their notes during the lengthy trial.
Mr Justice Bennathan confirmed that they could discuss the evidence when gathered together, but warned them against reaching conclusions before hearing all the evidence.
The direction is intended to ensure that jurors consider the prosecution’s case and the defence’s arguments before deciding whether the charges have been proved.
Russell Brand Arrives at Court Carrying Religious Books
Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday for the fourth day of his trial without his wife, Laura Gallacher.
He wore a charcoal suit and white shirt, with a silver cross hanging from a cord around his neck. He was also seen carrying a Bible, a mobile phone and a religious study guide titled Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks by American author Ann Spangler.
When he entered the dock, Brand briefly stood with his eyes closed and his hands clasped in what appeared to be a meditative pose. He later knelt and made the sign of the cross as the judge entered the courtroom.
Speaking as he arrived, Brand said he was feeling “most blessed”.
Trial Continues as Jurors Hear Evidence From Complainants
The proceedings are expected to examine the allegations involving six women and the circumstances in which the complaints were reported.
The first complainant’s recorded police interview is among the evidence being presented as the case progresses. Jurors will need to assess the accounts and other evidence admitted during the trial, while considering the arguments advanced by both the prosecution and the defence.
The allegations remain allegations unless and until established in court. The outcome of the trial will depend on the evidence and the jury’s assessment of the charges.
