An MTV worker who alleges she was attacked by Russell Brand reported it to police in a 999 call 22 years on, a court heard. In a recording of the phone call played to the jury, the woman described the Hollywood star's behaviour at the time as 'very very weird' and 'strange'.
When he targeted her, she said: "I was a stranger. He didn't know me from Adam."
Alleged Attack at MTV Event
The woman has told Southwark Crown Court Brand turned into a 'wild-eyed maniac' as he tried to drag her into the gents. She said they had only exchanged a few words beforehand, with her complimenting him on his 'I Am Spartacus' t-shirt.
Brand asked her where the loo was - then grabbed her arm and tried to drag her inside, the jury has heard. The woman said she had to 'wrench' herself free from the actor, TV presenter, comedian, author and podcaster.
Reporting After Documentary
She said she did not report the 2001 incident to police or her MTV bosses at the time because Brand was one of the music channel's 'big assets', she had a 'job to consider', and 'it would have been my word against his'. But after seeing a 2023 Channel 4 Dispatches TV documentary accusing the star of sexual misconduct, she called police.
She told the emergency operator: "I just want to speak with someone about a situation I found myself in with him in a work environment. To be honest I was in two minds whether to even report it at all." She said she had been told she 'should be coming forward with my story', in the wake of the documentary.
During the 999 call the woman said: "I was just a bit shaken. It was all very, very weird." She said it 'seemed very strange behaviour'.
The woman added: "I was a stranger. He didn't know me from Adam. I just wanted to share my story in case it may help support investigations."
Broader Allegations and Trial
At the end of the call the woman said her account 'could be insignificant' and she later told police she did not think Brand would remember the incident.
But she added: "It could have been potentially a lot worse than it was. I don't feel in any way traumatised about my experience with Russell Brand trying to grab me and drag me into a toilet. But it's a story that shows what he is capable of."
Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged indecent assault along with three rapes and three sexual assaults involving five other women between 1999 and 2009.
The prosecution has alleged he was a 'ruthless' sexual 'predator' pursuing an 'obsessive' campaign to sleep with '5,000 women'.
In 2004 another MTV worker alleged Brand dragged her into a Soho bar toilet, unzipped his trousers and orally raped her.
She alleged the star had a 'weird maniacal' grin on his face 'like a clown' when he grabbed her 'boobs' within 30 seconds of meeting her at the birthday bash. The woman, who was left shaking and 'numb', said Brand had told her: "You want to do this. Come on. Don't be a spoilsport."
"It was almost like watching a film of something happening to you," she said.
She later told a colleague Brand was a 'sexual predator' but did not go to police until 2023 after seeing media reports about his alleged sexual misconduct.
The trial continues.
