Russell Brand's former personal assistant Helen Berger told a court she had to stop Brand's mother and girlfriend from walking in on him having sex with a woman.
Ms Berger worked with Brand from June 2006 to February 2007, during his time as an MTV, Channel 4 and BBC star, while he was writing a book and performing stand-up to packed audiences.
Court testimony details
The PA claimed she found Brand receiving oral sex in toilet stalls, adding she overheard him talking and "recognised his trademark cowboy boots". She said she was told to take people to the green room at a show because "Russell is having sex in the dressing room".
Ms Berger claimed she witnessed women being badly treated by the comedian and resigned from her position when she was "sick of him". She alleged the comedian would also "get antsy" when they were on deadlines, joking: "May I go and have sex now?"
Allegations of mistreatment
She informed Southwark Crown Court that "peacock" Brand sought out random women online to fulfil his "insane sexual appetite", though sex frequently left him feeling low.
In a statement given to Brand's rape and sexual assault trial, Ms Berger stated she witnessed him "treat women poorly", and claimed those around him were "normalising bad behaviour".
She stated in a statement read to Southwark Crown Court on Monday: "Though I've worked with a lot of celebrities before and seen a lot of people normalising bad behaviour, this was on another level." She noted "normalising and dismissing Russell's behaviour made me think, 'this is just the way it is here'."
Further claims and trial update
Ms Berger claimed Brand had "an insane sexual appetite and was sleeping with people day and night", and she remembered the comedian "getting antsy" when they were on deadlines, joking: "May I go and have sex now?"
Ms Berger alleged how Brand once carried out an interview with actress Sadie Frost while wearing only his pants and an open robe. "When I went to Russell's flat he was always in his underwear, he loved walking around in his underwear with no shirt on", describing the encounter with Ms Frost: "He did the whole interview in his underwear, no shirt, and an open robe."
Ms Berger told the court she worked for Brand through his agent, John Noel, and would often be called on to go to the comedian's flat in Camden, north London. She said: "I worked a lot and was exhausted, emotional, and it was a lot to deal with. I always had to manage my emotions around him. He had an insane sexual appetite and was sleeping with people day and night. He was very open about what his needs were, we didn't have a specific conversation about it."
Ms Berger explained that reviewing Brand's press coverage formed part of her duties, which included interviews where he'd spoken candidly about his sexual encounters and desires. "He never seemed happy after sex, more so depressed," she noted.
She told the jury that Brand utilised MySpace to locate women for sexual encounters, adding: "At his house, women often came over and it was clear they were there for sex." She claimed to have discovered a female celebrity sleeping in Brand's bed on one occasion while he roamed the property partially clothed, commenting about the comedian: "He was like a peacock, women would always approach him."
Ms Berger stated she was directed to obtain phone numbers for Brand from female fans during her initial period working with him. However, she revealed she "felt uncomfortable" and, following consultation, informed Brand she would no longer carry out that task.
Ms Berger also claimed to witness Brand abruptly dismiss a woman he was speaking with at a party once he discovered she was in a relationship. She alleged: "He turned in a way that really startled me. He literally switched off his charm and moved on to the next woman."
Concluding her testimony, Ms Berger explained she left the position after nine months when she was "sick of him and feeling burned out".
Brand faces accusations of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Mr Justice Bennathan informed jurors on Monday morning that the prosecution case is nearing completion, with the defence case set to commence on Tuesday lunchtime. The trial continues.
