Brand turned monster-like during hotel room rape - court

A court in London heard that Russell Brand, now 51, allegedly transformed into a "monster" during an alleged rape in a hotel room at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth in 1999. The woman, who testified at Southwark Crown Court, described how Brand, whom she initially perceived as "camp, friendly and effeminate," suddenly shifted in demeanor after she invited him to her hotel room to continue their conversation following a cabaret show. She stated that Brand stripped off his shirt and began to "prance around" like an ostrich, performing "goose steps" reminiscent of Basil Fawlty. The woman said she felt threatened and feared for her safety when Brand became "dark and arrogant," acting as though he was "on stage." She emphasized that she did not consent to the sexual encounter and could not fight back, describing the experience as terrifying. In a recorded police interview played to the court, the woman detailed how she met Brand at the cabaret show and was drawn to his intellectual side. However, she later realized she had misjudged him, stating that she believed she was "sexually safe" with him initially. When questioned by Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, she denied falling under his spell and maintained that she had never wanted sex from him. The woman recounted how she was "terrified" when Brand requested that she photograph him while he was half-naked. She expressed confusion and fear, asking where she could possibly run to if she needed to escape. She admitted she felt trapped and unable to flee, despite wanting to distance herself from the situation. Brand has faced multiple allegations from six different women, denying all accusations of rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault related to incidents spanning from 1999 to 2009. During the trial, the woman described the physical and emotional toll of the encounter, stating she struggled to breathe and felt as though she was "like a zombie on the bed." She expressed feelings of shame and self-blame, believing she should not have let Brand into her hotel room. Brand’s legal team challenged the credibility of the woman’s account, suggesting she might have fabricated parts of the story or exaggerated her distress. They argued that if she truly felt threatened, she would have attempted to leave the room. The woman countered these claims, insisting that she was genuinely terrified and physically unable to resist Brand’s advances. The trial continues with further testimonies and evidence being presented, as the court seeks to determine the validity of the allegations against Brand.