Jack Bayles, head of comedy at Various Artists Limited, has been asked to step back from his role at the London-based TV production company following allegations made during Russell Brand's trial. Bayles will no longer work on two sitcoms the firm was producing for the BBC.
Allegations during Brand trial
During the trial at Southwark Crown Court, Bayles was named as a member of Brand's entourage who allegedly failed to intervene during a sexual assault. The court heard that a young female staffer was forced by Bayles and another producer, Gareth Roy, to give Brand a massage in 2009 while recording a new project for Channel 4.
When she reluctantly agreed, Brand thrust his head into her groin and only got up again when apparently insulted that she had commented on his "bony body", the court heard. She told the jury: "I was so repulsed by the situation." The victim complained afterwards to her Channel 4 bosses.
Company response and statement
A statement from Various Artists Limited said: "We have asked Jack Bayles to step back from the company while we consider the verdict and events surrounding the trial. Our thoughts, though, are primarily with every one of Brand's victims at this time."
Bayles told The Times in a statement: "I am appalled and sickened by Brand's actions and have co-operated fully and voluntarily with the investigation and endeavoured to assist as best I can. However, I do not remember the incident that took place 17 years ago in 2009. But I acknowledge that I clearly missed something at the time and did not see nor recognise that it caused distress. For that I am sincerely sorry."
He added: "At the time of the offence, I was in the early stages of my career, and it was a frantic, pressured and toxic working environment. Brand was chaotic, dismissive and manipulated the people around him. It was due to that, that I made the decision to stop working with him in 2010 and have not had any contact with him since."
Bayles, a BAFTA-award winning producer, has been involved in programmes on the BBC such as Push, and also produced the Channel 4 sitcom Catastrophe. Brand, 51, was found guilty of one rape and three counts of sexual assault on Thursday at Southwark Crown Court. His sentence is set to be handed down on Monday.
