Russell Brand's former personal assistant has told the court that the comedian-actor asked her to collect phone numbers from female fans, while allegedly using MySpace to find women for sex. Helen Berger, who worked with Brand from June 2006 to February 2007, said the requests made her uncomfortable and eventually prompted her to tell him she would no longer do it.
Her testimony was heard at Southwark Crown Court as Brand faces a trial over multiple alleged sexual offences involving six women. The 51-year-old denies the charges, while his defence team maintains that any sexual activity was consensual.
Former Assistant Shares Disturbing Details
Berger said Brand asked her to obtain female fans' phone numbers when she first started working for him, a request that made her 'uncomfortable'. After seeking advice, she told the comedian she would no longer do it, and he did not ask her again.
In her written statement, Berger described Brand as having an 'insane sexual appetite' and claimed he regularly sought women online during her time as his assistant. She said he used MySpace to find women for sex and that women frequently visited his home, where she believed they had come for sexual encounters. She recalled finding a female celebrity asleep in Brand's bed while he wandered around the house half-dressed.
The former assistant also described how Brand would become frustrated with work and ask if he could 'go and have sex now'. She said she had never witnessed anything unlawful herself, but felt that people around him normalised and dismissed his behaviour. According to Berger, she eventually left her job because she was 'sick of him'.
Russell Brand’s former personal assistant has told the jury in his trial that Brand had an ‘insane sexual appetite’ and that he was always surrounded by women.
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) October 26, 2026
The comments were delivered as the jury continued to hear evidence in the case against the comedian and actor, who… pic.twitter.com/tOFTbNpt1x
Inside Russell Brand's Criminal Trial
Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges relate to allegations made by six women concerning incidents said to have taken place between 1999 and 2009.
The comedian has pleaded not guilty and denies the allegations. His defence team maintains that any sexual activity was consensual and argues that accounts have been distorted following a 2023 television documentary that brought allegations of sexual misconduct against him into public view.
The trial has included testimony from complainants and other witnesses describing alleged encounters and their recollections of Brand's behaviour. The prosecution was expected to finish on Monday, 26 October, with the defence due to begin its case the next day.
Religious Transformation Under Scrutiny
Brand's public image has changed considerably since his earlier career as a comedian, actor and television presenter. In recent years, he has increasingly presented himself online as a Christian, discussing spirituality, faith and personal transformation.
He was baptised in the River Thames in April 2024, with adventurer Bear Grylls participating in the ceremony. The baptism attracted attention because it took place after the allegations against Brand became public in 2023, prompting questions from some critics about the relationship between his religious transformation and the accusations he continues to deny.
His Christian identity has also drawn renewed attention during the legal proceedings. In an April 2026 interview with Piers Morgan, Brand struggled to locate a Bible passage he said he had read in court. The awkward exchange went viral and attracted online mockery, with some viewers questioning how he presented his Christian faith.
The wider controversy reflects the scrutiny surrounding Brand's shift from provocative entertainer to religious commentator. However, his religious beliefs do not determine the outcome of the criminal case, which must be decided on the evidence presented in court.
