Russell Brand's first girlfriend, Amanda Alguero Alejos, has spoken publicly about their relationship in the new Netflix documentary, Open Secret, reflecting on the crimes and behaviour of the convicted rapist.
Earlier this week, Brand was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison after being found guilty of raping a fan in 2009 and sexually assaulting three other women over a five-year period.
A Relationship That Began in a Classroom
Amanda previously told the court that Brand was "undoubtedly promiscuous" but never in front of her. She said women would "circle" around the disgraced comedian when they went out as a couple. The pair met in 1999, when Brand was her teacher at the Callan School of English in London.
Amanda, who was several months older than Brand, told him he was attractive before they began a romantic relationship.
Speaking in the documentary, she said: "I remember every Friday we used to go to a pub. He was different from other teachers. Very, very clever. And I thought, 'Mm, very handsome boy.' I asked him, 'Come to the toilet for kisses with me.' His eyes were open, like, 'What happened here? Who is this lady?' I fancy him so much. Slowly, slowly, we fell in love. It was my first love."
Drug Use and the Breakdown
After they began their relationship, they talked about settling down together and shared "kisses in different places," including Bali and Paris. She added: "When I met him, his lifestyle was normal. He used to take drugs like recreation. Smoking joints. But he always is looking for something more. He was taking a lot of drugs. Cocaine and heroin."
Their relationship quickly began to break down, with women writing their phone numbers on Brand's hands while she was with him. "We couldn't have intimacy together anymore," she said, before adding that Brand later acknowledged he had a sex addiction.
Walking Away After Six Years
Amanda realised the man she once loved had become a completely different person, noting there was "something dark" inside him. She then ended their six-year relationship.
During his trial, she said: "He was very loving, thoughtful and patient with me. We laughed a lot together; it was a beautiful relationship. I always felt truly cherished and loved." She insisted that the pair never had sex without her consent and that Brand would write her poetry.
Brand faced seven charges in total: three of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault. He was acquitted of raping a woman at a hotel in Bournemouth in 1999, during the Labour Party conference at which Brand had performed at a cabaret show.
In court, the judge criticised Brand's "staggering arrogance" and labelled him a "sexual predator" who exploited his status to target fans. Mr Justice Bentham accused the star of showing a "casual, arrogant disregard for any woman's right to say no."
