A journalist who followed Russell Brand's trial has said his daily court arrivals felt like a "fashion parade" and that he presented himself as a victim despite fair reporting.
Katie Spencer, speaking on Sky News, reflected on the media attention surrounding Brand during the proceedings. She said she had been troubled by the way Brand appeared to present himself as the victim of excessive media attention, despite journalists taking care to report the proceedings fairly.
Journalist's discomfort
Spencer said: "One of the things that has been slightly galling is the fact that Russell Brand has been very much, 'Poor me, aren't I the victim? Everyone is giving me this unfair level of attention', and we, the press as a whole, have been meticulous in reporting fairly, as you have to do with every single court case."
She went on to describe her discomfort at watching Brand arrive at court throughout the trial, suggesting the attention surrounding his appearances had been particularly difficult for the women at the centre of the case.
The journalist continued: "I certainly have felt slightly uncomfortable seeing his arrivals every day. It's been almost a sort of fashion parade of designer suits and him sort of doing these long and dramatic sort of pauses out the front to ensure that his photograph is taken."
Impact on victims
Spencer added that the experience of watching Brand receive such attention must have been frustrating for the women involved in the case, who had to follow the proceedings.
She said: "You can't imagine how frustrating it must have been for them, the level of attention that he has generated throughout the course of this case."
The journalist also pointed to a noticeable difference in Brand's arrival on Monday, suggesting it marked the first time there had been a more balanced picture of him being brought to court. She said: "It feels like just today is the first kind of fair balance we get of him actually arriving in a police van and not being given the sort of ability to pose out the front of court."
Sentencing
Brand, 51, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years on Monday after being convicted of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women who worked in television and radio during his rise to international fame. He was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
One victim told the court she had been raped by Brand in 2009, when she was 21, at his luxury London home. Three other women, who had worked at Channel 4, MTV and Capital Radio, also came forward with allegations of sexual assault.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Bennathan condemned Brand's conduct, describing his arrogance as "staggering". The judge told him: "About 20 years ago Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people's eyes you were funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator."
He said Brand's celebrity status had protected him until an investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches exposed allegations of sexual misconduct in 2023. The judge also described Brand's attitude towards women as a "casual arrogant disregard to any woman's right to say no to you", adding that those around him during his rise to fame had "indulged your dreadful behaviour".
