Woman describes 'frenzied' and 'violent' alleged assault by Russell Brand at radio studio

Two more complainants give evidence on sixth day of trial at Southwark Crown Court

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

A woman has told a jury that comedian Russell Brand sexually assaulted her in a 'frenzied' and 'violent' attack at a London radio studio in the mid-2000s. The complainant, who gave evidence from behind a screen, said Brand grabbed her, kissed her roughly and pressed his body against hers. Brand, 51, denies seven charges including rape and sexual assault against six women between 1999 and 2009.

The woman, now in her 50s, said she had never met Brand before and believed he was at the Choice FM building because he was appearing on Channel 4's Big Brother's Big Mouth. She described the alleged encounter: 'He grabbed me by my face, started to kiss me, and when he was kissing me he started pushing me - his body against me.' She used the word 'frenzied' to characterise the attack, telling the jury: 'His hands were moving so much - the reason I used the word frenzied was because it was violent. He just wasn't stopping.'

The woman said she pushed him off and swore at him, but no one in the group accompanying Brand intervened. Under cross-examination by Brand's barrister, she said the cultural climate at the time worked against reporting: 'It wasn't the culture where something happened to you and you tell people.' She said she feared losing her job and not being believed.

Later, the jury heard from another woman who worked with Brand on a Channel 4 project in 2009. She said members of Brand's team asked her to give him a massage. After she refused, Brand 'came into the room and lay his head into my lap, into my groin area'. When asked by prosecutors exactly where his head was, she replied 'in my vaginal area'. She said she felt 'repulsed' and reported the incident to her line manager at the time.

Brand denies all charges. His barrister questioned the first complainant's failure to go to police at the time and why none of the people who may have seen the alleged assault raised concerns. The trial continues.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The trial is a high-profile test of how the justice system handles historic sexual offence allegations against a celebrity.
The testimonies highlight cultural shifts in reporting sexual assault and the barriers victims faced in earlier decades.
A verdict will have implications for public trust in both the legal process and the #MeToo movement.

Background

The trial began last week at Southwark Crown Court. Brand faces seven charges: three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, alleged to have occurred between 1999 and 2009. He has pleaded not guilty. The prosecution has alleged Brand was a 'sexual predator'. The court has already heard from three earlier complainants. The two women who testified on Tuesday are the fourth and fifth accusers to give evidence.

Key Perspectives

Complainants: Both women provided graphic accounts of alleged unwanted sexual contact, describing feelings of shock, shame and fear of not being believed. They said they did not report the incidents at the time due to the social climate and concern for their careers. Defence: Brand's barrister questioned the credibility of the accusers, highlighting inconsistencies in their testimony and delays in reporting. Brand maintains that any sexual contact was consensual. Prosecution: The Crown alleges a pattern of predatory behaviour, arguing the women's accounts are credible and consistent with a culture that once silenced victims.

What to Watch

The remaining complainant scheduled to testify, completing the prosecution's case.
The defence case, where Brand may choose to give evidence.
The jury's verdict, expected after both sides have presented their arguments.

Sources

Woman describes alleged assault by Russell Brand as 'frenzied' and 'violent' · BBC News

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe headline describes the alleged assault as “frenzied” and “violent.”BBC News: “A woman who claims Russell Brand sexually assaulted her has described the alleged attack as "frenzied" and "violent".”
SupportedTwo complainants gave evidence on the day described in the summary.BBC News: “On Tuesday, the jury heard from the fourth complainant in the trial”
Not in the sourcesIt was the sixth day of the trial.
SupportedThe first complainant testified that Brand grabbed her face, kissed her and pushed his body against hers.BBC News: “he grabbed me by my face, started to kiss me, and when he was kissing me he started pushing me - his body against me.”
Partly supportedThe first complainant said no one accompanying Brand intervened.BBC News: “She said there were several people with him who she claims didn't say anything about what happened after the alleged assault.”
SupportedThe first complainant said she used “frenzied” because the incident was violent and Brand would not stop.BBC News: “His hands were moving so much - the reason I used the word frenzied was because it was violent. He just wasn't stopping.”
SupportedThe first complainant said she feared losing her job and not being believed.BBC News: “Who would have believed me? I could lose my job and I had a mortgage to pay,”
SupportedThe second complainant said Brand came in and put his head in her lap, near her groin.BBC News: “came into the room and lay his head into my lap, into my groin area”
SupportedThe second complainant said Brand’s head was in her vaginal area.BBC News: “in my vaginal area”
SupportedBrand, 51, denies seven charges concerning six women and allegations spanning 1999 to 2009.BBC News: “Brand, 51, faces seven charges in the trial - three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. The allegations, made by six female complainants, span a 10-year period between 1999 and 2009. He denies the charges.”