Russell Brand tells trial it was wrong to use fame to ‘facilitate’ sex with women

Former comedian, in court on rape and sexual assault charges, says he misused position but ‘consent is more important than sex itself’

Russell Brand has told a court he had an obsession with sex as a younger man but denied setting himself a “goal” to sleep with 5,000 women.

The former comedian, 51, said as he gave evidence in his rape trial that he had never forced himself on a woman, telling jurors consent was “non-negotiable” and “more important than sex itself”.