A survivor who was sexually assaulted by Russell Brand told the court how she was left “traumatised” after he attacked her in a Soho bar
A survivor showed extraordinary bravery as she stood defiantly in the witness box to tell a Judge how she felt ‘physically sick’ when she saw Russell Brand on television.
She said the attack had haunted her for decades and left her feeling like “damaged goods”.
Proceedings were delayed on Monday, as the court was re-organised, so Brand was unable to see the woman as she read out her powerful statement from behind a beige curtain.
The woman told how she was left in “shock and turmoil” after being attacked by the TV presenter and comedian.
He had sexually assaulted her in the summer of 2004 at a party in a bar in Soho, London, by grabbing her breasts, less than a minute after they started chatting at the bar.
Follow our live coverage of the sentencing hearing at Southwark Crown Court
Brand is being sentenced for rape and three counts of sexual assault after being found guilty at Southwark crown court on Thursday.
During the hearing, one victim told the Judge how the attack left her feeling like “damaged goods’.
She told the court: “I wanted to express how this crime has affected me over the years. 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.
“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.
“For many years as his star was rising it was impossible to escape seeing him all over the media, being celebrated for his disgusting behaviour against women like it was all a joke. There were many times I felt physically sick at the sight of him parading around think he can get away with anything.
“Over the years I tried not to think about it and get on with my life – I had a beautiful daughter who helped me to heal and learn to love myself again and to try and be the best mum in the world for her.”
Brand looked straight ahead showing no emotion, as she read out her victim impact statement, aimed at giving victims a voice.
She continued: “Seeing the front pages of the newspaper talking about what happened to me caused me to have the only panic attack I’ve ever had in my life, it was a truly terrifying experience.
“Even more terrifying was seeing my character be torn apart on social media by people believing all of us women were making it up.
“It was hugely upsetting for myself, my family and friends who wanted to scream at their phones whilst scrolling through.
“There’s been accusations and death threats from manic supporters of him on social media which has installed a genuine fear that my name will somehow get out there and some crazy person will come after me or my family.
“The last three years have been a massive strain on myself and my family navigating this whole procedure, the fear and anticipation of the trial has taken a huge toll on my mental and physical health.”
She concluded her statement by saying: “I felt like my life was on hold for all of that time waiting my time to speak out about what happened to me.”
The woman told the court: “As they say a leopard may change its spots but at the end of the day it’s still a leopard and not a gazelle.”
She also told how she has received accusations and death threats from “manic supporters” of Brand on social media and fears a “crazy person” will come after her or her family. She said it has had a “huge toll on my mental and physical health.
The judge thanked the woman for coming to court to give her witness statement in person.
During the hearing, former head of Channel 4 news, Dorothy Byrne, appeared on Sky News calling for every company Brand had ever worked at to launch an investigation.
She said she hoped this was a ‘watershed moment’ adding: “Every single company, where Russell Brand worked, must now carry out an investigation into what happened and they should be approaching former employees..and asking them to come forward…” She said the “wider industry needs to ask themselves questions”.
“There could be many, many victims, possibly even hundreds of women who have been harassed over decades or assaulted by Russell Brand. This is a major case.”
She said: “It is very difficult for women to step forward and I really admire the women who have done so…we have got to find ways as an industry of encouraging women to step forward like this and telling them, assuring the, you will be supported by your employer if you do so.”
“There are quite a number of men, and they know who they are and so do quite a few of us, who should be shaking in their boots today and I hope that their victims feel empowered to come forward…”
Victim impact statements are taken into account by the judge when deciding upon an appropriate sentence.
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