Hollywood star Kevin Spacey was a “sexual bully” and “predator” who abused his position to target young men, a jury has been told at the start of his trial in London.
Spacey, 63, denies three counts of indecent assault, seven counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent between 2001 and 2013.
Opening the case for the prosecution at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, Christine Agnew, KC, said Spacey—whose full name is Kevin Spacey Fowler, assaulted four men who were all in their 20s or 30s at the time of the alleged offences.
The Oscar-winning actor, known for his roles in “House Of Cards,” “American Beauty” and “The Usual Suspects,” denies the charges and claims they are “half-truths … some deliberate exaggerations and … many damned lies.”
Agnew told the jury: “Kevin Spacey Fowler is an actor. Many of you will already know that. He is an extremely famous actor who has won a number of awards. He is also, the prosecution alleges, a man who sexually assaults other men.”
‘Misfortune’ to Attract Spacey’s Attention
Agnew went on, “During the course of this trial you will hear from four men—four men who are not known to each other but who had the misfortune to attract the attention of the predatory Mr Spacey Fowler.”She told the jury: “We, the prosecution, suggest that Mr Spacey Fowler abused the power and influence that his reputation and fame afforded him, taking advantage of his popularity and prominence, his illustriousness and influence. Taking what and who he wanted, when he wanted.”
Agnew then went through the allegations made by each of the four men, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
She said the first complainant met Spacey several times during the early 2000s and remembered him being “very touchy feely.”
Agnew said Spacey’s behaviour eventually escalated and he groped the man “in an aggressive way.”
She said the defendant appeared to get a “sexual thrill out of this type of sexual aggression.”
The second complainant met Spacey at an event in a theatre in London’s West End in 2005 and recalled the star made crude remarks towards him.
Spacey ‘Laughed’ After Groping man, Jury Told
The prosecutor said Spacey “simply laughed” when the complainant tried to push him away.In 2008 the third complainant, an aspiring actor, wrote to Spacey and the pair met up in London and ended up in the actor’s flat.
Agnew said the complainant “fell asleep or passed out” at one point and when he woke up Spacey was making an unwanted sexual advance.
She said he fled the flat and remembered sitting and crying at a bus stop at 5 a.m.
The final complainant initially met Spacey in a pub near Oxford.
The prosecutor said Spacey later gave him “an awkward man hug,” kissing him on the neck and telling him “be cool, be cool,” before grabbing his groin.
Agnew said the complainant pushed Spacey away and said he did not “bat for that team,” before leaving “in a bit of a panicky state.”
The jurors were urged not to be “star-struck” by the Hollywood star, who is on bail during his trial.
Agnew told them, “Keep yourself grounded and true to the oath that you have taken.”
The trial is set to last several weeks.
