London: British actor and comedian Russell Brand was described by prosecutors on Wednesday as a sexual predator who sexually abused six women despite their objections.
Brand, 51, once one of Britain’s most prominent broadcasters and the former husband of US singer Katy Perry, faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving six women between 1999 and 2009. He denies all allegations.
“Today I feel blessed,” Brand said as he arrived at London’s Southwark Crown Court. “I feel, of course, concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved.”
Opening the prosecution’s case, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones said that, regardless of who the women were or what they said or did, Brand was not deterred in pursuing them.
“Some of the women involved protested and said no, while others had no opportunity to react to his advances, but it mattered not to the defendant,” she told the court.
“His desire, his strong desire, for some form of sexual contact was indiscriminate and voracious.
“He could be nice when he wanted to be, funny, undoubtedly, charming and likeable when he wanted something in return.
“But then demanding, entitled and flirtatious, with a huge sexual appetite and a child-like expectation that his every desire should be met.
“He was ruthless, he was calculating, he was manipulative and, the prosecution say, he was a sexual predator.”
The trial is expected to last around six weeks.
Brand, known for his flamboyant style and appearance, was a regular presence on British television during the 2000s and also worked as a radio presenter for the BBC.
He later starred in several films, including Get Him to the Greek in 2010, the same year he married Perry. The couple divorced in 2012 after 14 months of marriage.
More recently, Brand has focused on online broadcasting, with content often centred on US politics, religion and free speech.