Prosecutors accused actor and comedian Russell Brand of sexually assaulting six women over a decade as his trial opened Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving alleged offenses between 1999 and 2009.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors that the alleged incidents occurred in several locations, including a hotel room, workplaces, a bar's toilet cubicle and Brand's home.
The six women do not know one another, according to the prosecution.
Karmy-Jones described Brand as a public figure whose charm and comedic talent allegedly concealed manipulative behavior toward women.
She said the prosecution would present evidence about incidents spanning his rise to prominence as a comedian.
Prosecution Outlines Allegations
At the opening of the case, Karmy-Jones characterized Brand's alleged conduct as that of a ruthless sexual predator.
She told jurors, "He was ruthless, he was calculating, he was manipulative. And, the prosecution say, he was a sexual predator."
The prosecution also described Brand as having an "indiscriminate and voracious" appetite for sexual contact, alleging that he treated women as a means of satisfying his desires.
Karmy-Jones said his behavior reflected an expectation that his wishes should be met.
The earliest allegation concerns an incident in 1999, when a woman alleges Brand raped her in a hotel room during the Labour Party's annual conference in Bournemouth, an English seaside town.
At the time, Brand was an emerging stand-up comedian performing in a cabaret event on the conference's fringe.
A second allegation concerns an incident in 2001.
A woman alleges that Brand attempted to drag her into a men's toilet at the office building where she worked.
Karmy-Jones told jurors, "There can be little doubt as to what Mr. Brand's intention was."
A third woman alleges that Brand orally raped her in a London bar's toilets in 2004.
According to the prosecution's account, the woman asked him to stop, and Brand responded, "Don't be a spoilsport."
Brand attended court on Wednesday while photographers and video journalists gathered outside.
He is on bail and expressed concern about the proceedings while remaining hopeful about their outcome.
"I feel, of course, concerned but hopeful that this process will lead to good outcomes for everybody involved," Brand said.
"That's my prayer."
Brand became widely known in the early 2000s through stand-up comedy, television programs and a BBC radio show.
His film credits include Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
In recent years, Brand has moved away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and developed a substantial online following through videos discussing wellness, conspiracy theories and his religious devotion.
The Associated Press does not identify alleged victims of sexual violence, and British law protects their identities from media disclosure for life.
