Russell Brand asked assistant for female fan phone numbers, court hears

A former personal assistant of Russell Brand has told a court she was instructed to get phone numbers for the entertainer from female fans when she first started working with him. Helen Berger, who worked closely with Brand from June 2006 to February 2007, said the request felt uncomfortable and, after seeking advice, she told the TV personality that she would not do that anymore. Brand, 51, is accused of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. The allegations, made by six female complainants, span a 10-year period between 1999 and 2009. Brand had an insane sexual appetite, Berger told Southwark Crown Court in a written statement on Monday.