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‘Painful and personal’: Fresh claims about Russell Brand

Jemima Goldsmith alleges she had personal experience of Brand's 'coercive control'. <i>Photos: PA</i>

Jemima Goldsmith alleges she had personal experience of Brand's 'coercive control'. Photos: PA

One of Russell Brand’s famous ex-partners has accused him of “violence, coercive control and abuse”, as UK police say they are expecting more alleged victims to come forward after the disgraced comedian was jailed for rape and sexual assault.

Brand was this week sentenced to 10 and a half years behind bars by Judge Joel Bennathan, who described him as a sexual predator who had shown “staggering arrogance” towards his victims.

Shortly after the sentence was handed down, UK TV presenter Jemima Goldsmith, who dated Brand in 2013-14, posted a long statement on social media in which she began by saying she was going to describe some “painful and personal things”.

“Firstly, and most importantly, I am and have always been strongly and unequivocally on the side of all of Brand’s victims,” Goldsmith wrote on X, adding that she was in awe of the “courageous women” who had come forward.

“I have had my own personal experience of his violence, coercive control and abuse,” she alleged.

“I had to call the police to have him removed from my house in 2014 during a violent incident. I chose not to press charges at the time and not to go public with this, as I was worried about the impact of the press attention on my then teenage children.”

Goldsmith, the ex-wife of former Pakistani prime minister and cricketer Imran Khan, added that she had not spoken to Brand since that period.

The 52-year-old – who also spoke about her involvement in a harassment injunction taken out in 2015 against a woman who had been booked to give Brand a massage at her home – revealed she had assisted the journalists who exposed Brand.

“Whilst my pain in relation to this, pales in comparison to what the women [who] have testified in court have suffered, this was a difficult period in my life which has had a lasting impact.”

Brand – who is the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry and has also dated a number of other high-profile women including former Spice Girl Geri Horner (previously Halliwell) –  was convicted in London’s Southwark Crown Court of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three more between 2004 and 2009.

He was acquitted of two other ​rape charges and an attempted indecent assault.

Bennathan said during sentencing that the entertainer had believed “fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live”.

Source: X

Since his conviction, the Metropolitan Police have revealed they are now investigating further rape allegations against Brand made by two other women. The have also said they hope the guilty verdicts will encourage more alleged victims to speak out.

“I clearly wouldn’t be surprised if many more came forward,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told the BBC.

Brand – star of films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and Arthur – has denied ever having non-consensual sex, although he acknowledged during the trial that he had dedicated a lot of his life to “reckless philandering and idiocy”.

Since his conviction, numerous video clips and interviews have resurfaced that appear show a pattern of predatory and controlling behaviours towards women.

‘A very dark period’

Perry, who was married to Brand for just over a year from October 2010, has not publicly commented on his conviction. but there are claims she plans to tell her story in a book and documentary series.

“At the moment she’s considering a Netflix-type series and an autobiography. She and her team have been in active discussions,” the Mail on Sunday quoted a “well-placed Hollywood source” as saying this week.

“There is a lot about that marriage which people don’t know. It was a very dark period in her life.”

Meanwhile, a video of Perry and Russell together on the red carpet at an Academy Awards party in 2010 has been shared since his conviction, with some pointing to it as evidence of Brand’s controlling behaviour.

As Brand starts saying what he thought of the Oscars coverage, Perry retorts that he didn’t actually watch it, adding: “I call him on his bulls—!”. The clip appears to show him then flashing a small badge towards her with the word “obey”.

@news.com.au A video of Russell Brand flashing an “obey” sign at then-wife Katy Perry during a 2010 red carpet interview with GMTV has resurfaced as reports emerge the pop star is considering a tell-all docuseries on their relationship. #katyperry #russellbrand #convicted #celebritynews ♬ original sound – News.com.au

Perry, who is now in a relationship with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, revealed in 2013 that Brand had told her he wanted a divorce in a text message on New Year’s Eve. She told Vogue the same year that “he didn’t like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour”.

“So that was really hurtful, and it was very controlling, which was upsetting.”

More recently, addressing fans at a concert in England last year, Perry quipped: “I hope my ex isn’t here. He should be in jail!”

‘Vile predator’

Singer Dannii Minogue is one of a number of Australian women whose uncomfortable encounters with Brand have resurfaced since his conviction and sentencing.

She told the UK’s Mirror in 2006 that he once followed her down a corridor and always went a “step too far”.

“He is completely crazy and a bit of a vile predator,” Minogue said at the time.

“I certainly don’t think he has cured his sex addiction, that’s for sure. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“He always goes that step too far. Never quite far enough to slap his face, but usually too far.”

After an interview for Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes six years later, Brand grabbed journalist Liz Hayes and kissed her on the lips.

Then entertainment reporter Fifi Box had an even more confronting encounter with him in 2010 while on assignment for Seven’s Sunrise. During what was supposed to be an interview about Get Him to the Greek, Brand – who was then engaged to Perry ­– made a string of crude, sexually suggestive jokes.

“I didn’t know much about him at the time,” Box told news.com.au in 2015. “By the end of the interview he was straddling me, grinding me inappropriately and trying to kiss me.”

Victims’ statements

Prosecutors agreed to a defence request to leave Katy Perry out of their opening statement during Brand’s trial. However, his current wife, Laura Brand, gave evidence.

She told the court Brand had been unfaithful when they were first dating in 2006 and 2007, but since their wedding in 2015 he had been a “caring” husband and “wonderful father” to their three children.

A very different picture of Brand was painted by the victims who gave evidence and delivered emotional statements ahead of his sentencing.

“The defendant’s public profile had a significant impact on me – because of who he was and the influence he held, I did not feel confident speaking openly about what had happened,” said the woman he raped.

“I did not know who I could trust or confide in. I felt that if I reported him, I would not be believed.

“His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless.”

Brand will serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

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