By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

A woman who has accused British comedian Russell Brand of rape told a friend that the alleged incident had caused her severe pain, a court in London has heard.

The testimony was presented during Brand’s ongoing trial at Southwark Crown Court, where witnesses described what the complainant allegedly told them following an encounter with the comedian in 2009.

The friend, who testified via video link, told the jury that she had attended a comedy show at the Hammersmith Apollo in London with the woman. After the performance, they were reportedly invited to Brand’s dressing room.

According to the witness, the woman later told her that she had visited Brand’s home in Hampstead after their initial meeting at the theatre. She said Brand had arranged for a car to pick up the woman and take her to his residence.

The witness said her friend spoke to her about the alleged incident shortly afterwards and was visibly distressed.

“She was just crying — really upset,” the witness recalled.

She told the court that the woman had described an encounter that began consensually but allegedly ended with Brand forcing her to have anal sex.

According to the account presented in court, the complainant told her friend that Brand had been aggressive and had continued despite her objections.

The witness recalled asking whether the woman had told Brand to stop. She said her friend responded that she had repeatedly told him to stop.

The friend also told jurors that the complainant had described experiencing significant pain after the alleged assault, including difficulty sitting down.

The allegations remain unproven, and Brand has denied all charges against him.

A second friend of the woman also testified, telling the court that the complainant had confided in her about the alleged incident.

According to the witness, her friend said she had asked Brand to stop during the encounter but he allegedly failed to respect her wishes.

The witness also described what the complainant reportedly said happened after the alleged assault, claiming Brand had spoken to her in a cold and dismissive manner.

She told the court that her friend recalled Brand describing her as dirty and telling her to clean up the mess.

The witness further said the complainant had described Brand as appearing eager to get her to leave.

After hearing her friend’s account, the witness said she advised her to seek medical attention because she was experiencing discomfort and what she believed were anal tears.

She also encouraged her to speak with her parents and consider reporting the matter to the police.

However, the woman was reportedly uncertain about what to do and struggled to process the experience.

The witness told the jury that her friend feared she would not be believed if she reported the alleged assault. She also felt that pursuing the matter might not be worthwhile.

According to the testimony, the complainant eventually tried to put the experience behind her rather than take immediate legal action.

The court also heard statements from the complainant’s parents, who described her condition following the alleged encounter with Brand.

According to the statements, the woman stayed with her parents for approximately two months after the incident.

Her mother recalled a conversation in which her daughter allegedly told her that Brand had raped her.

She also said her daughter was particularly worried about the possibility of contracting HIV following the encounter.

The mother told the court that her daughter had discussed the matter during a car journey, explaining that she had visited Brand because she had admired him for some time.

The woman’s father similarly recalled that his daughter had been extremely upset and unwell while staying with them.

He said she appeared troubled by something that had happened to her and later spoke about the alleged sexual assault.

In his statement, the father recalled asking his daughter whether she had told Brand to stop during the encounter. He said she confirmed that she had done so repeatedly.

He then told her that, based on what she had described, he believed she had been raped.

The father also said his daughter underwent a sexual health examination after the incident. He added that he had only recently learned that she was accusing Brand of anal rape.

The statements were presented as part of the evidence being considered by the jury.

Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges he faces in the trial. They include three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.

The allegations involve six women and relate to incidents said to have occurred over a decade, between 1999 and 2009.

The trial has heard testimony from complainants and people who say the women confided in them about the alleged incidents.

The evidence presented so far includes accounts of the women’s recollections, their emotional responses and the conversations they reportedly had with friends and family members after the alleged events.

Brand has denied the charges, and the jury will consider the evidence before reaching its verdict.

The case remains ongoing, and the allegations against the comedian have not been established as facts by a court.