Russell Brand's wife, Laura Gallacher, has told a court that he is an 'amazing husband and wonderful dad' as the comedian faces trial for multiple sexual offences.
Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court, Ms Gallacher defended her husband, describing him as 'very caring' and saying they always have sex 'at my pace'.
Brand, 51, is accused of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one charge of attempted indecent assault. He has denied all the allegations against him.
Wife's Character Testimony
Asked for her view of her husband's character, Ms Gallacher said: 'Russell, my husband, is caring, he is kind, he is a wonderful father to our children. He is amazingly attentive husband. He has got an eye for detail I've never known before.'
'The way he treats me is to really know me, I feel very seen by him in every way. I love him very much.'
In her evidence, Ms Gallacher said Brand was 'very caring' and they always have sex 'at my pace'. Talking of when they began dating in 2007, she said: 'I was not experienced, I had only had one partner before Russell.'
'I felt entirely cared for and looked after by Russell.'
Relationship History
She told jurors Brand 'respected my view' if she said she did not want to do something. Ms Gallacher said they broke up in summer 2007 when she was 'very aware' of Brand's promiscuity.
She said: 'I wasn't interested in having a relationship with him if he was sleeping with other people. I was invested, we both had told each other we loved each other but it was clear it was difficult for him to be monogamous.'
She said they got back together again as a couple in 2015 and married in 2017. During his wife's evidence, Brand could be seen mouthing words in her direction when she told the court about his baptism.
The entertainer has displayed little emotion during the course of his trial, but was seen smiling broadly during parts of his wife's evidence. He let out an audible laugh when she told the court: 'We do have many friends and there are colleagues, and we are grateful for those people.'
Previous Testimony and Ex-Girlfriends
Previously, Brand told the court it was 'devastating' to be accused of rape and friends and colleague now will not 'touch me with a barge pole'.
Elia Alvarez Diaz, a ballet dancer who dated Russell Brand for three years in the 1990s, said their relationship ended because he cheated on her repeatedly, his trial at Southwark Crown Court has heard.
She said Brand was well-liked when they studied together at drama school, and was a 'complex character' who could be 'exciting to be with'. 'He was promiscuous and unfaithful', she said, in a statement.
'We had many arguments.' She said the relationship 'failed as I could no longer trust him to be faithful'.
A second ex-girlfriend, Amanda Alguero Alejos, told the court in a statement that Russell Brand had also repeatedly cheated on her. She said: 'He was undoubtedly promiscuous, never in front of me and never when I was around.'
'That was not what mattered to me at the time.' She recalled women 'circling' around Brand 'like birds', even when they were out as a couple.
The trial continues.
