Russell Brand says rape claims ‘devastating’ as he starts giving evidence

Russell Brand says it was "devastating" to be accused of rape and he told a court friends and colleague now will not "touch me with a barge pole".

The 51-year-old former comedian started giving evidence at his Southwark Crown Court trial on Wednesday morning with a series of denials to the allegations of rape and sexual assault.

Asked about his views on consent, Brand told the jury it is "more important than sex itself".

He told the court he could not get any of his friends and former colleagues to give evidence in his defence, in the wake of being publicly accused of offences against women three years ago.