Russell Brand’s spouse ‘shakes head’ as husband’s intercourse assault sufferer speaks in court docket
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Southwark Crown Court heard a victim impact statement from a woman who was sexually assaulted by Brand in a Soho bar in 2004
Brand’s wife Laura was comforted as she arrived at court today(Image: Getty Images)
Russell Brand’s wife shook her head as her husband’s sexual assault victim spoke in court. The disgraced comedian, 51, will be sentenced today at Southwark Crown Court after he was found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults last Thursday.
The court first heard a victim impact statement from a woman who was sexually assaulted by Brand in a Soho bar in 2004. The woman, who delivered her statement live in court from behind a protective curtain, said: “I wanted to express how this crime has affected me over the years.
“When it happened, I was in complete shock and turmoil for weeks trying to process what had happened to me. I was extremely upset and traumatised.
Brand arrived to court in a prison van(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“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. I literally lost any love for myself for a long time thinking that I was damaged goods.”
The woman continued to deliver her victim impact statement, which read: “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.
“There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around think he can get away with anything.
“Over the years I tried not to think about it and get on with my life – I had a beautiful daughter who helped me to heal and learn to love myself again and to try and be the best mum in the world for her.”
Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher shook her head as the first impact statement from one of her husband’s victims was read out in court.
The woman’s statement, which she read as Brand looked straight ahead showing no emotion, continued: “Seeing the front pages of the newspaper talking about what happened to me caused me to have the only panic attack I’ve ever had in my life, it was a truly terrifying experience.
Victim impact statements are being read in court today(Image: Getty)
“Even more terrifying was seeing my character be torn apart on social media by people believing all of us women were making it up. It was hugely upsetting for myself, my family and friends who wanted to scream at their phones whilst scrolling through.
“There’s been accusations and death threats from manic supporters of him on social media which has installed a genuine fear that my name will somehow get out there and some crazy person will come after me or my family. The last three years have been a massive strain on myself and my family navigating this whole procedure, the fear and anticipation of the trial has taken a huge toll on my mental and physical health.”
The woman who was sexually assaulted by Brand in a Soho bar in 2004 concluded her statement by saying: “I felt like my life was on hold for all of that time waiting my time to speak out about what happened to me.”
She concluded with something she said she had “read the other day”.
The woman told the court: “As they say a leopard may change its spots but at the end of the day it’s still a leopard and not a gazelle.”
The woman’s statement, which she read as Brand looked straight ahead showing no emotion, continued: “Seeing the front pages of the newspaper talking about what happened to me caused me to have the only panic attack I’ve ever had in my life, it was a truly terrifying experience.
Brand showed no emotion as his victims addressed the court(Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz, Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher shook her head as the first impact statement from one of her husband’s victims was read out in court.
A four-week trial heard how Brand preyed on women that he encountered on his way to becoming one of Britain’s best-known comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood actor who was briefly married to singer Katy Perry.
Brand was convicted by the jury of raping a 21-year-old fan in 2009, after meeting her following one of his stand-up shows at the Hammersmith Apollo.
The woman told jurors she was a huge Brand fan and had willingly engaged in a threesome with him backstage despite having a boyfriend at the time.
She agreed to go to Brand’s Hampstead home for sex a few days later, but a consensual encounter turned into rape when the comedian suddenly forced the woman into anal sex.
Another woman told the court how her breasts were groped by Brand in the Nordic bar in Soho, just seconds after she had been introduced to him at a 2004 party. She recalled Brand’s “weird” grin as he carried out the sexual assault.
In 2005, Brand kissed and groped a third woman during a visit to the Capital Radio studios in London, pouncing on her as she walked out of a room.
Brand was also convicted of putting his head into the groin of a female Channel 4 worker, after she had been forced to give him a massage in 2009.
Brand denied the all the charges and claimed to have only ever had consensual sex during a “promiscuous” life, which he insisted had been packed with “idiocy” but never illegal.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, Victim Support – Free, confidential support after crime.
