Russell Brand trial live: Comedian asked assistant for phone numbers of female fans, court told

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Russell Brand arrives at Southwark Crown Court as rape trial continues

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.

RECAP: Brand 'often met women online using MySpace'

Helen 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: Brand had 'non-top energy' and was 'a lot to deal with'

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.

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 column and writing a book, as well as press and media engagements.

Pictured: Russell Brand arrives at court with wife Laura Gallacher

Brand's assistant 'had to stop his mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex'

Ms 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.

Brand’s bad behaviour was ‘normalised’, trial hears

Russell 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.

Original source Russell Brand trial live: Comedian asked assistant for phone numbers of female fans, court told

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