‘He became monster-like’: Russell Brand rape accuser tells court she was ‘terrified’ in hotel room

A woman has alleged that British comedian Russell Brand raped her in a hotel room more than two decades ago, testifying in a London court that he became "monster-like" during the attack. The woman, who remains unnamed, testified from behind a screen, describing her fear and terror as Brand stripped to his tight underpants and proceeded to sexually assault her.

She testified that she had initially consented to discussing a potential theatre project with Brand, but that he manipulated her into thinking she was safe around him. When she returned from the restroom, she saw him in only his underpants, which caused her to feel terrified and trapped, unable to escape. The jury heard her account of the attack, including her testimony of Brand continuing to rape her despite her attempts to express her discomfort.

The woman denied that Brand had persuaded her to have sex, stating that he seemed menacing and refused to listen to her pleas to stop. The prosecution at the trial described Brand as a "sexual predator" and "manipulative", and the court heard testimony from six women who allege Brand committed sexual assaults against them between 1999 and 2009.