Russell Brand was "ruthless, calculated and manipulative" and a "sexual predator", a jury has been told as his trial on rape and sexual assault charges began at Southwark crown court in London.

The comedian, actor and former television presenter, who is now 51, denies all the charges against him.

Opening the prosecution's case on Wednesday, Miranda Karmy-Jones KC told jurors that the allegations "punctuate" 10 years of Brand's life, during a period when "his career was beginning to flourish".

A career taking off

"His public profile was taking off as he was progressing from doing gigs as a standup comedian at pubs and clubs to a TV presenter, an actor and Hollywood movie star," she said.

The prosecutor said the circumstances of the alleged offences were "as wide and as varied as the defendant's career", and that they took place in a number of locations, including a hotel room, workplaces, a toilet cubicle in a bar and his home.

She reminded the jury that they would be considering events said to have happened between about 27 and 17 years ago, when Brand was aged roughly between 24 and 33. "The man who you will be considering in this trial is not the Mr Brand who is sitting in the dock," she said.

The prosecution's description

Ms Karmy-Jones told jurors that some of the women involved protested and said no, while others had no opportunity to react. "Regardless of who they were and what they said or did, Russell Brand was not deterred," she said.

She described his alleged desire for sexual contact as "indiscriminate and voracious". He could be "nice when he wanted to be, funny – undoubtedly – charming, likable even", she said, but was also "demanding, entitled" and "childlike in his expectation that his every desire should be met".

The allegations

The jury heard an outline of the allegations made by four women, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The first complainant, the court heard, met Brand at a fringe event at the Labour party conference where he was performing. The prosecution said a conversation between them later continued in a hotel room. Ms Karmy-Jones alleged that he "told her exactly what she needed to hear" and then manipulated the situation so as to have sex with her.

The second complainant worked at MTV at the time of an alleged incident in 2001. The prosecutor said that when the woman offered to show him where the toilets were, Brand allegedly grabbed her hard by the forearm and told her to come in. She resisted and managed to pull away, the jury was told.

The third complainant, the court heard, was allegedly pulled into a toilet at a bar in Soho in 2004 and orally raped. The prosecutor said the woman told him she did not want to, and he replied with words to the effect of "don't be a spoilsport".

The fourth complainant was in her 20s and working at a radio station in 2004 or 2005, the court heard. The prosecution alleges that Brand grabbed her face, pushed her against a wall and kissed her aggressively while grabbing her body, before she pushed him away. The prosecutor told the jury he "just sniggered – like it was a joke".

Brand's position

Brand has consistently denied wrongdoing since the allegations were first reported in 2023. He has previously said that his relationships were "always consensual" and has accused sections of the media of pursuing an agenda against him.

Since leaving mainstream broadcasting, he has built a large online following, and in recent years has spoken publicly about his religious faith.

The jury will hear his defence later in the trial. Under English law, a defendant does not have to prove his innocence; it is for the prosecution to prove the charges so that jurors are sure of guilt.

A closely watched case

Brand arrived at court on Wednesday morning to a large gathering of photographers and television crews. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

The judge has warned jurors to decide the case only on the evidence they hear in court, and not to research it online or discuss it on social media.

Allegations against the star first surfaced in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches. The Metropolitan Police later investigated, and the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges in 2025.

The trial continues.