A friend of a woman accusing British comedian Russell Brand of rape has told a London court that the complainant described the alleged assault as painful and was deeply distressed when she spoke about it afterwards.
The witness gave evidence via video link at Southwark Crown Court, where Brand is facing seven sexual offence charges involving six women over a period spanning 1999 to 2009. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The court heard that the witness attended a comedy show at London’s Hammersmith Apollo with the complainant in 2009. After the performance, the women were invited to Brand’s dressing room.
According to the witness, the complainant later told her that she had visited Brand’s home in Hampstead after he arranged for a car to collect her.
Recounting their conversation about the alleged incident, the friend said the complainant was crying and visibly upset. She told the jury that the woman described Brand as aggressive and said the alleged forced sexual act had “really, really hurt”.
The witness also said she had asked the complainant whether she had refused the act, and the woman had told her that she had said no repeatedly.
Statements from the complainant’s parents were also presented to the court. Her mother recalled being told that Brand had allegedly forced anal sex on her daughter and continued despite her protests and expressions of pain.
Her parents also described their daughter’s concerns about the possibility of contracting HIV following the alleged incident.
The allegations form part of a wider case against Brand, who faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges relate to six women and alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009.
Brand denies the charges and has maintained that any sexual encounters were consensual. The trial is continuing, and the allegations have not yet been determined by the court.
