Russell Brand was once considered so culturally important ​that the opposition leader hoping to be Britain’s next prime minister went on his online show, while former US Vice President Al Gore was happy to be interviewed by him.

A comedian and presenter turned Hollywood actor and then unlikely political activist, Brand was one of the most recognisable and sought-after figures in the British entertainment world from the late 2000s until the mid-2010s.

A self-declared sex addict, he was also desired by hordes of women, with hundreds queuing up to meet him after his stand-up shows. He says many were eager to have sex with him, be it in his dressing room or in toilets at parties.

British police and prosecutors say he abused that celebrity, and simply expected women to be ready to satisfy his cravings, whether they were willing or not.