A court in London has heard that Kevin Spacey, the actor, was described as a “predator” who would allegedly assault one of his accusers when they were alone together. The trial, which involves four men accusing Spacey of sexual assaults in the UK between 2001 and 2013, heard testimony from one of the accusers. According to the court, the man claimed that on one occasion, Spacey forcefully groped him while driving, causing him to swerve off the road. Spacey has pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges against him.
During the trial, the first witness recounted the alleged abuse, relating to seven of the charges, while Spacey listened in the dock of Southwark Crown Court. The jurors were played a recording of the complainant’s police interview, and the man, who is granted lifelong anonymity due to the nature of the charges, was questioned in court by Spacey’s lawyer.
The accuser stated that Spacey assaulted him approximately 12 times, explaining that these incidents occurred when they were alone in a car or in a lift. He described multiple instances of groping, mentioning that Spacey’s behavior escalated from being “eerie and awkward” to becoming physically invasive. The actor would reportedly “laugh it off and change the subject” when confronted about his actions.
According to the complainant, Spacey’s unsettling behavior began shortly after they first met, with the man feeling that he was being groomed. The accuser also claimed that Spacey promised to introduce him to A-list celebrities. When visiting Spacey’s south London apartment, the actor would allegedly be partially or completely naked and would attempt to touch him before he left. The court was informed of an incident where Spacey grabbed the complainant’s crotch for 12-times, while he was driving, resulting in the vehicle swerving off the road.
Kevin Spacey had a significant presence in the UK as the director of the Old Vic theatre in south London from 2004 to 2015. The defense barrister, Patrick Gibbs KC, questioned the timing of one of the alleged incidents, as the complainant claimed it occurred while they were en route to Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball.
The barrister stated that this was untrue, as Spacey only attended the event once in 2001, while the complainant said the incident happened in the mid-2000s. The complainant acknowledged the potential error in recalling the dates, given that it had happened two decades ago.
Expressing relief when Spacey would return to the US after trips, the accuser admitted feeling dread when the actor was coming back. Describing Spacey as a “predator,” the man stated that although he appeared nice, he was actually “aggressive.” He characterized Spacey as a difficult person with a troubled childhood who struggled with his sexual orientation.
The complainant alleged that it was widely known among those associated with the Old Vic theatre that Spacey was involved in inappropriate activities, cautioning young and attractive individuals to be careful. The man admitted that he now feels sick at the thought of the actor and cannot bring himself to watch anything featuring him.
When questioned about his own sexuality, the complainant dismissed it as ridiculous, reaffirming that he has a female partner and found Spacey’s behavior distressing. He adamantly denied soliciting attention from Spacey or reciprocating any contact, stating that there was absolutely nothing going on between them.
The man clarified that he did not report the allegations to the police because he wanted to join a bandwagon, but rather because seeing the news coverage of others coming forward made him feel compelled to tell the truth.
Kevin Spacey Fowler, known as Kevin Spacey in court proceedings, pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
He had previously denied four additional charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The trial revolves around these 12 charges, and Spacey maintains his denial of the allegations. The law ensures lifelong anonymity for all four accusers. The trial is ongoing….
** Taking lead from BBC
