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British comedian and actor Russell Brand was described as a ruthless sexual predator with an insatiable appetite for sex who allegedly raped women in pursuit of his goal of sleeping with 5,000 women. The allegations were outlined on the first day of his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.

Brand, 51, faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving six women between 1999 and 2009. The actor denies all the charges.

Prosecutors portrayed him as a calculating and manipulative abuser who allegedly committed sexual offenses over a decade, treating women merely as a means of satisfying his own desires.

According to the prosecution, Brand used his fame, charm and comedic talent to gain women's trust before allegedly assaulting them. Prosecutor Riel Karmi-Jones told the jury that the actor could be charming, funny and pleasant when he wanted something, but expected his every desire to be fulfilled.

She described Brand as “ruthless, calculating and manipulative,” adding that the prosecution considered him a sexual predator.

The court also heard that, as Brand's acting career advanced and he became a Hollywood star, the alleged assaults may have taken place virtually in plain sight. One woman's complaint was allegedly ignored by television executives.

People who knew the actor described him as obsessed with sex and determined to get what he wanted from whomever he chose. According to the prosecution, he treated women as though they meant nothing.

A target of 5,000 women

The comedian's former friend, Mark Pineiro, also testified that Brand had boasted about wanting to sleep with 5,000 women.

According to the witness, during a preview screening of Brand's comedy show Messiah Complex in 2013, the actor announced: “You're about to see some proper rock 'n' roll debauchery.”

He then allegedly selected women lined up along a wall and took them into a toilet one by one, spending around 10 minutes with each.

The prosecutor said Brand used various tactics to approach women. He might tell them what they wanted to hear, show an interest in their beliefs or openly make advances within minutes of meeting them.

“But every time he selected a target, he was seeking to satisfy his own sexual desire,” Karmi-Jones told the court.

Brand's friend Andrew Dobson put it more bluntly: “Women and sex were his goal and obsession.”

Brand denies the charges

The alleged victims came forward in 2023 following reports of sexual misconduct published by The Times and the release of a Channel 4 documentary.

During police questioning, Brand maintained that all his sexual encounters had been consensual. He said he could not remember the women who had accused him and suggested they had “reinterpreted” their encounters.

On Wednesday, the actor sat in the dock wearing a black suit and, according to reports, showed little emotion as details of the allegations were read out.

The trial is ongoing and is expected to last up to eight weeks.

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