A woman who was sexually assaulted by Russell Brand said she received death threats on social media after giving evidence in the trial.
Complainant 3 (C3), who was sexually assaulted by Brand at a TV industry party in London in 2004, read out a victim impact statement in court from behind a screen after the comedian was convicted last week.
Her voice shaking, she told London’s Southwark Crown Court that her character was “torn apart” online, and that her family “wanted to scream at their phones as they scrolled.”
C3, who has a lifelong right to anonymity, said she had a “panic attack” after reading about her complaint in the media during the trial. She said speaking to police and the court was like “reliving the ordeal” of her assault “over and over again.”
The woman delivered her statement after Brand was found guilty last week of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He will be sentenced to prison later on Monday. Deadline has been reporting daily from a live video feed of the courtroom since the trial began around a month ago.
“It really affected how I viewed myself, I didn’t have any respect for myself and got into situations with toxic men as I didn’t have any self-worth,” the court heard. “For many years, as his star was rising, it was impossible to escape seeing him all over the media, being celebrated for his disgusting behaviour against women like it was all a joke.”
Addressing Brand, who was sitting in the dock, the woman said: “A leopard may change spots, but at the end of the day, it’s still a leopard.”
Three other complainants wrote victim impact statements, which were read out by prosecution barrister Riel Karmy-Jones. They spoke about the toll on their lives of Brand’s offending, his fame, and their fight for justice.
Complainant 4, who was sexually assaulted by Brand on the premises of a radio station, wrote: “Russell Brand is a sex predator who has no remorse. I hope he is not allowed to hurt any more women.”
Complainant 5, who was anally raped by Brand in 2009, said her experience had damaged her confidence and self-esteem. “Even now, I continue to experience anxiety, difficulties with trust, reduced confidence and the lasting effects of trauma,” she said. “What happened is not something that I have simply been able to move on from.”
C5 worried that she had contracted HIV following the incident, and that she still struggles with any situation where she is not fully in control of “what’s happening to my body.” She added: “His profile meant he remained present in my life, even when I wanted to move on.”
Complainant 5, who was sexually assaulted by Brand in 2009 while working for Channel 4, said the justice process felt “like a marathon I had not trained for.” The woman said she was proud of herself for speaking out, but “I worry it will haunt me every day, despite being the right thing to do.”
Brand spent the weekend in Wandsworth prison after being remanded in custody last week because he was denied bail. Judge Mr Justice Bennathan said Brand was a man of “considerable resources” and there were “substantial grounds to fear he might in the end not feel able to come along and face his sentence.”
A prison van delivered Brand to Southwark Crown Court on Monday, a marked change from his previous arrivals during the four-week trial, when he emerged from a blacked-out private car in sunglasses and buttoned-down shirts. Earlier on Monday morning, Brand’s wife, Laura Brand, arrived in court. She gave evidence during the trial, describing her husband as “amazingly attentive” and “kind,” telling jurors: “I love him very much.”
