Victim impact statements from Russell Brand's victims were read out at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, with one woman describing the "shock and turmoil" she felt after the disgraced comedian attacked her. Brand was found guilty last week of raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009. Mr Justice Bennathan ordered him to start his prison sentence immediately after the verdict, with sentencing due later today.
First victim describes lasting trauma
The court first heard from a woman sexually assaulted by Brand in a Soho bar in 2004. Delivering her statement from behind a protective curtain, she said: "When it happened, I was in complete shock and turmoil for weeks, trying to process what had happened to me. I was extremely upset and traumatised."
She added: "It really affected how I viewed myself; I didn't have any respect for myself and got into situations with toxic men as I didn't have any self-worth. I literally lost any love for myself for a long time, thinking that I was damaged goods."
The woman said the "shame" was "carried around inside with me for 20 years," and that seeing media coverage of the case caused her first panic attack. She also described accusations and death threats from Brand's supporters on social media, saying she feared her name would become public and someone would come after her or her family.
Second victim cites lasting impact
A second victim, sexually assaulted by Brand at Choice FM in 2005, said the incident has had a "lasting impact" on her life. Her statement, read by prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC, said: "Russell Brand has managed to move on and even forget that he sexually assaulted me violently in a very public place and in front of people."
The statement described how the incident affected her work with stories of sexual violence and her relationships with male colleagues, particularly during the Me Too movement. She said she was advised to seek therapy for "serious anxiety" and almost withdrew from the case because she did not think she was strong enough emotionally to proceed.
Rape victim's statement read in court
The rape victim's statement, also read by Riel Karmy-Jones KC, detailed how Brand's public profile created a "power imbalance" that made her feel powerless. She said: "His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless. I did not have the confidence to challenge someone who appeared so powerful, rich and influential."
The statement described the investigation and criminal justice process as "extremely difficult," adding that providing personal records and access to her mobile phone felt "highly intrusive." She said the media coverage added another layer of difficulty, and she was "unprepared for the level of publicity."
The victim said she felt "anxious, humiliated and overwhelmed" after the attack, struggled to eat and sleep, and returned to live with her parents because she did not feel safe. She added that the incident has "affected intimacy" and made her "hypervigilant," sometimes increasing her alcohol consumption to block out feelings and memories.
Final victim describes process as marathon
The final victim, sexually assaulted by Brand while he was filming a project in 2009, said in her statement that she "felt powerless" and lost trust in people. She said: "Immediately after the incident, I spoke up, and sadly it was brushed under the carpet by senior management."
She described the reporting process as feeling "like a marathon I had not trained for," and said she had to step back from work commitments because the investigation took so much out of her. The statement concluded: "I am proud of myself for speaking up, and I would not change what I did supporting the investigation. Although this process has been difficult, I do not want others to be worried about speaking up because it is the right thing to do."
