Russell Brand asked his assistant to get the phone numbers of his female fans for him, she told the court as she gave evidence on Monday.
Helen Berger said the request made her feel “really weird” and she later told the comedian she would not do it again. She told jurors she felt Brand’s bad behaviour was “normalised” and that he was sleeping with women “day and night”.
During her time working for the star between June 2006 and February 2007 she told the court he was always in his underwear when she went to his flat, and recalled his “insane sexual appetite”.
She told Southwark Crown Court she had never witnessed Brand doing anything against the law, but added: “Though I had worked with celebrities before and seen a lot of people normalising bad behaviour, this was on another level.
“I think everyone else normalising and dismissing Russell’s behaviour made me think, I guess, this is just the way he is.”
Brand denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assault in alleged attacks against six women between 1999 and 2009. The trial continues.
Brand’s bad behaviour was ‘normalised’, trial hears
09:16 , Tom BarnesRussell Brand’s bad behaviour was “normalised” and he was sleeping with women “day and night”, his former personal assistant told the court on Monday.
Helen Berger, who worked for the comedian between June 2006 and February 2007, described the role as “one of the hardest jobs I did” and recalled he was always in his underwear when she went to his flat.
“When I went to Russell’s flat he was always in his underwear as he loved walking around in his underwear with no shirt on,” she said in a statement read to Southwark Crown Court by prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC.
Russell Brands was sleeping with people ‘day and night’, ex-assistant claims
Brand's assistant 'had to stop his mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex'
09:27 , Tom BarnesMs Berger told the court on Monday about a time when she had to stop Brand’s mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex with a woman.
She said she was told to take them to the green room at a show because “Russell is having sex in the dressing room”.
The PA also recalled going to the toilet and finding Brand receiving oral sex in one of the stalls.
She said she overheard him talking and recognised his trademark cowboy boots.
Pictured: Russell Brand arrives at court with wife Laura Gallacher
10:03 , Joe Middleton
RECAP: Brand had 'non-top energy' and was 'a lot to deal with'
10:26 , Joe MiddletonHelen Berger, who worked for the comedian between June 2006 and February 2007, described the role as “one of the hardest jobs I did” and recalled he was always in his underwear when she went to his flat.
“When I went to Russell’s flat he was always in his underwear as he loved walking around in his underwear with no shirt on,” she said in a statement read to Southwark Crown Court by prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC.
The assistant said the star had “non-stop energy” and it was “a lot to deal with” as she helped him manage a busy workload at the height of his fame, including a national comedy tour, TV shows, a BBC radio show, a Guardian column and writing a book, as well as press and media engagements.
RECAP: Brand 'often met women online using MySpace'
10:43 , Joe MiddletonHelen Berger, who worked for the comedian between June 2006 and February 2007 told the court on Monday that women would arrive at his flat during the day and “it was clear they were there for sex”.
“He often met women online and I think he often used MySpace for this,” she said. “He was like a peacock and women always approached him.”
On one occasion she was told to take his mother and girlfriend to the green room during a show because he was having sex in his dressing room, the court heard.
During an early-morning visit to his north London flat she saw a female celebrity asleep in Brand’s bed, Ms Berger added.
RECAP: 'I saw Russell treat women poorly'
11:15 , Joe MiddletonMs Berger told the court on Monday that during one show, Brand closed a performance by telling female audience members where he would be drinking afterwards.
“Russell would end his show in Edinburgh, ‘If you have a vagina and a heartbeat, I will be in this pub afterwards,’” she said. “And many, many women would show up.”
On another occasion, while filming for MTV, the star asked her to get phone numbers from female fans, which made her feel “really weird” and she later told him she would not do it again, Ms Berger added.
“I did see Russell treat women poorly,” she said. Recalling one moment in which he realised a woman he was speaking to at an afterparty was in a relationship, she added: “He just switched off his charm and moved on to the next woman.”
Jury will hear evidence later this afternoon
11:56 , Joe MiddletonThe jury trying the case of comedian and actor Russell Brand will now hear evidence at 2pm on Tuesday.
RECAP: 'She said his eyes had gone completely blank and it was like he had been possessed'
12:31 , Joe MiddletonThe jury also heard a statement from the sister of one complainant’s on Monday, who alleges Brand dragged her into the toilet of a Soho bar and forced her to perform a sex act in 2004.
She described her sister as “very subdued, distant and not her usual self” the following morning.
“I asked whether she’d had a good night out and she said no, Russell Brand had pulled her into a toilet, locked the door and tried to assault her,” the court heard.
The witness said her sister described the comedian’s eyes as being “completely blank” during the alleged attack, adding: “She said his eyes had gone completely blank and it was like he had been possessed or had been a completely different person.”
RECAP: Brand's assistant 'had to stop his mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex'
13:15 , Joe MiddletonMs Berger told the court on Monday about a time when she had to stop Brand’s mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex with a woman.
She said she was told to take them to the green room at a show because “Russell is having sex in the dressing room”.
The PA also recalled going to the toilet and finding Brand receiving oral sex in one of the stalls.
She said she overheard him talking and recognised his trademark cowboy boots.
RECAP: Brand had 'non-top energy' and was 'a lot to deal with'
13:45 , Joe MiddletonHelen Berger, who worked for the comedian between June 2006 and February 2007, described the role as “one of the hardest jobs I did” and recalled he was always in his underwear when she went to his flat.
“When I went to Russell’s flat he was always in his underwear as he loved walking around in his underwear with no shirt on,” she said in a statement read to Southwark Crown Court by prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC.
The assistant said the star had “non-stop energy” and it was “a lot to deal with” as she helped him manage a busy workload at the height of his fame, including a national comedy tour, TV shows, a BBC radio show, a Guardian column and writing a book, as well as press and media engagements.
Brand's defence will not start today - Judge
14:36 , Joe MiddletonAt the start of the afternoon session, Mr Justice Bennathan apologised to the jury for the “deeply regrettable” delay, and told them Russell Brand’s defence case will not start today.
He said documents which “should have been put in a schedule weren’t, and we have been taking some time to sort out how much that matters and what we do about it.”
He also told the jury that the lawyers in court, the complainants, and Brand are not at fault, adding: “You must not blame them for this.”
The judge said the prosecution case will conclude on Tuesday afternoon, legal argument will take place later, and the trial is due to continue with the defence case on Wednesday morning.
