Russell Brand’s Former Assistant Testifies He Asked for Female Fans’ Phone Numbers During Trial
Russell Brand’s former personal assistant, Helen Berger, has given evidence during the ongoing trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, stating that the comedian once asked her to collect phone numbers from female audience members. Berger said she complied on one occasion but later refused to do so again. She described her time working for Brand, from June 2006 to February 2007, as highly demanding and said she left after becoming exhausted and “sick of him.”
Berger’s testimony paints a picture of Brand as having an unusually high sex drive, meeting women through social media platforms and after his performances, with some women visiting his Camden flat for sexual encounters. She also recounted incidents where she had to prevent Brand’s mother and then-girlfriend from entering his dressing room while he was engaged in sexual activity. On another occasion, she said she overheard Brand receiving oral sex in a women’s toilet cubicle, recognising his voice and distinctive cowboy boots.
Despite describing Brand’s behaviour as often inappropriate and noting that he treated women poorly, Berger stated she never witnessed him doing anything illegal nor received any disclosures of criminal conduct. She told the court that the behaviour she observed was often normalised by those around Brand, which made her believe it was simply “the way it is” in that environment.
The trial concerns serious allegations against Brand, who faces seven charges: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. These charges relate to alleged offences involving six women over a period spanning from 1999 to 2009. Brand denies all allegations.
The prosecution case is expected to conclude shortly, with the defence scheduled to begin presenting its evidence soon. All complainants in the case have been granted lifelong legal anonymity under UK law.
This trial follows a Metropolitan Police investigation launched in September 2023, prompted by investigative reports from Channel 4’s Dispatches programme and The Sunday Times, which featured interviews with several women accusing Brand of sexual misconduct. In April 2025, the police charged Brand with five counts related to four women, and the Crown Prosecution Service added two further charges in December 2025 concerning separate alleged offences involving two additional women in 2009.
Berger’s statement about being asked to collect phone numbers from female fans is part of the evidence presented in court and should be understood as contextual to the broader allegations. It is not, in itself, a criminal charge and has not been proven in court. Notably, there is some discrepancy between earlier media reporting, which suggested Brand made repeated requests for phone numbers, and Berger’s courtroom testimony, which indicates she was asked only once and refused subsequently.
The court has yet to make any findings on the truth of Berger’s statements or the wider allegations against Brand. As with all defendants in the UK legal system, Brand is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Crown Prosecution Service has emphasised the importance of fair trial rights and cautioned against reporting that could prejudice the proceedings.