Fourth complainant tells Russell Brand trial of alleged assault at London radio station

A fourth complainant told Russell Brand’s trial at Southwark Crown Court in London on Tuesday, 20 October, that he sexually assaulted her at a radio station in the mid-2000s. She described the alleged encounter as ‘frenzied’ and ‘violent’. Brand denies the charges against him.

What the fourth complainant told the jury

The woman said she had come out of a small room when she encountered Brand, whom she said she had never met before. She alleged that he pressed his body against her, touched her and kissed her forcefully. She said she pushed him away and swore at him, according to BBC News. The Mirror also reported her account of a forceful kiss.

Why she said she did not report the allegation earlier

Asked by Brand’s barrister why people who might have seen the encounter had not raised concerns, she said the culture at the time was different. Asked why she did not go to police, she questioned whether she would have been believed and said she feared losing her job while she had a mortgage to pay. She said she later came forward after watching a television documentary about Brand and allegations concerning his behaviour, according to the BBC.

Her evidence follows testimony from other complainants in the ongoing trial, including the account of an alleged incident involving an MTV worker. The allegations before the court concern six women and span 1999 to 2009, the BBC reported.

The charges and Brand’s response

Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. His position is that any sexual contact, if it happened, was consensual, the BBC reported. The jury is hearing the complainants’ accounts as part of the continuing trial.