Russell Brand tells trial he had sex obsession but consent is ‘non-negotiable’

Former comedian, in court on rape and sexual assault charges, denies setting goal to sleep with 5,000 women

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”.