Russell Brand's former personal assistant has told a court that the comedian found women online to satisfy an "insane sexual appetite" and that she saw him treat women poorly.
Helen Berger worked closely with Brand from June 2006 to February 2007, when he was a star of MTV, Channel 4, and the BBC, as well as writing a book and performing stand-up to sell-out crowds. She quit because she was "sick of him".
Witness describes Brand's behaviour
In a statement to Brand's trial at Southwark Crown Court, Berger said that "peacock" Brand found random women online to satisfy his "insane sexual appetite", but sex often made him depressed, reports the Mirror.
Berger also said she saw him "treat women poorly", and accused those close to him of "normalising bad behaviour". She said: "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 said "normalising and dismissing Russell's behaviour made me think: 'This is just the way it is here'." Berger said Brand had "an insane sexual appetite and was sleeping with people day and night", and she recalled the comedian "getting antsy" when they were on deadlines, joking: "May I go and have sex now?"
Details of working relationship
Ms Berger said Brand once did an interview with an actress wearing only his pants and an open robe. She said: "When I went to Russell's flat he was always in his underwear, he loved walking around in his underwear with no shirt on." Of the encounter, she added: "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 regularly be asked to go to the comic's home in Camden. 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."
Press coverage and MySpace encounters
Ms Berger said part of her job was to review Brand's press coverage, including interviews where he had talked openly about his sexual encounters and desires. She said: "He never seemed happy after sex, more so depressed."
She told the court Brand used MySpace to find women for sex, and said: "At his house, women often came over and it was clear they were there for sex." She remembers once finding a female celebrity asleep in Brand's bed while he was wandering around the house half-dressed, and said of the comedian: "He was like a peacock, women would always approach him."
Ms Berger said she was told to get phone numbers for Brand from female fans when she started working with him. But she said she "felt uncomfortable" and, after seeking advice, she told Brand that she would not do that any more.
Ms Berger also recalled seeing Brand dismiss a woman he was chatting to at a party when he realised she was in a relationship. She said: "He turned in a way that really startled me. He literally switched off his charm and moved on to the next woman."
Trial continues
Ending her statement, Ms Berger said she quit the job after nine months when she was "sick of him and feeling burned out".
Brand is accused of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. He denies all the charges.
Mr Justice Bennathan told jurors this morning that the prosecution case has nearly finished, and they will start to hear the defence case tomorrow. The trial continues.
