Kevin Spacey trial: ‘Slippery’ actor behaved as if he ‘thought he might groom me’, court docket hears

Kevin Spacey behaved as if he “thought he could groom” one in every of his alleged victims of sexual assault – and handsome younger males have been warned in regards to the “slippery” Hollywood actor because it was “well known he was up to no good”, a court docket has heard.

During the primary day of proof at Southwark Crown Court in London, the primary of 4 complainants claimed he was assaulted greater than 10 occasions by Spacey over a interval of about 4 years within the early 2000s – saying the actor put the alleged sufferer’s hand on his personal penis a number of occasions, and grabbed him on different events.

The man, a driver, was “disgusted” with the alleged intercourse assaults, the court docket heard. “The first time that he touched me, it was just a massive shock. I immediately pushed his hand off,” he mentioned.

Read more: Kevin Spacey trial – as it happens in court

Spacey is on trial accused of 12 intercourse offences in opposition to 4 males between 2001 and 2013, and has been described by the prosecution as a “sexual bully”. He has vehemently denied all the costs.

As nicely as listening to from the alleged sufferer, jurors watched a recording of his interview with police. In the footage, he described warning the star on one event that he would “knock him out” on the journey to an A-list occasion hosted by Sir Elton John – however the actor was “turned on” by this.

In the footage, the person, who can’t be named for authorized causes, described Spacey, 63, as a “slippery, snaky, difficult person” and a “very mixed-up individual”. He additionally referenced his serial killer character within the movie Seven, saying: “He’s a bit like that, a bit creepy.”

‘Don’t try this once more or I’ll knock you out’

The man mentioned Spacey advised him he might introduce him to A-list stars, and mentioned when he tried to combat again in opposition to one of many alleged assaults, the actor replied: “That’s such a turn on to me. You’re such a man.”

Describing one alleged incident to police, the person mentioned: “He grabbed me so hard I almost came off the road. He grabbed me really hard and it really hurt. I pushed him against the door and said, ‘Don’t do that again or I will knock you out’.”

Spacey “would squeeze my bum and would rub my legs”, the person mentioned in his police interview.

He additionally mentioned he had discovered Spacey strolling round his flat bare occasionally, including: “It’s not something I wanted to see, to be honest.”

‘It was well-known he was as much as no good’

The alleged sufferer advised the officer that younger, handsome males have been warned in regards to the actor’s behaviour, and mentioned individuals would inform them: “You better be careful.”

“It was well known he was up to no good,” he added.

When questioned in court docket by Spacey’s lawyer Patrick Gibbs KC, the person denied being excited by the actor touching him. He additionally dismissed the defence lawyer when he requested whether or not the alleged incidents made him query his sexuality – describing it as a “ridiculous question”.

Asked how Spacey’s alleged actions affected him, the complainant mentioned he suffered “shame, embarrassment and shock”.

It “caused me anxiety”, he advised the court docket, including that it was not simple to speak about on the time so he largely “blocked it out”.

He continued: “I was struggling with the fact that someone had touched me and I didn’t allow them to. And secondly, he was a major movie star.”

The man advised the court docket he made it “crystal clear” he didn’t like being touched in that means and denied a suggestion that he “sometimes let him do it and… in fact responded to it”.

Continuing his cross-examination of the alleged sufferer, Mr Gibbs started to ask: “Didn’t what happened between you…”

The man interjected: “Nothing happened between us – he assaulted me.”

Alleged sufferer denies ulterior motives for making allegations

He additionally denied that he had jumped on a “bandwagon” by coming ahead, or been motivated by cash, saying: “I’m doing well in my life. I could really do without all this… some others have been brave and come forward, so I thought it was time for me to come forward and do the same.”

In his police interview, the person mentioned he might now not watch any of Spacey’s movies or TV programmes.

“I can’t watch a movie with [Spacey] in it… I can’t stand him, it makes me feel physically sick,” he mentioned.

The man advised the officer Spacey was “pretending to be nice” however was a “predator” who was “aggressive”.

He added: “He was obviously very messed up with his sexuality.”

The fees in opposition to Spacey

Spacey pleaded not responsible in July 2022 to 4 fees of sexual assault and one in every of inflicting an individual to interact in penetrative sexual exercise with out consent.

In January this 12 months, he pleaded not responsible to seven additional fees – three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault, and one depend of inflicting an individual to interact in sexual exercise with out consent.

The most severe cost confronted by the actor, of inflicting an individual to interact in penetrative sexual exercise with out consent, carries a most punishment of life imprisonment.

The trial continues.