Kevin Spacey labeled ‘sexual bully’ by prosecutor in UK trial

The actor Kevin Spacey is “a sexual bully” who “takes pleasure in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable,” a prosecutor told a British jury on Friday. Prosecutor, Christine Agnew, spoke at Southwark Crown Court and outlined her case against the Academy Award-winning actor, who is on trial in London on multiple charges of sexual assault.

Ms. Agnew said the actor’s “preferred method” of assault was to “grab other men aggressively in the crotch”. On one occasion, she said, Mr. Spacey had gone further and performed oral sex on a man while he slept.

The actor “abused the power and influence his reputation and fame gave him” to take “whoever he wanted, when he wanted,” Ms Agnew said.

Mr Spacey has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The actor, 63, faces 12 charges in connection with incidents involving four men, according to the prosecutor, that took place between 2001 and 2013. For much of that period, Mr. Spacey Artistic Director of the Old Vic theater in London.

Ms. Agnew said the complainants included an aspiring actor and a man Mr. Spacey had met at a work event. Under UK law, it is illegal for anyone to identify complainants in sexual assault cases or to publish information that could lead to their being identified.

Patrick Gibbs, Mr Spacey’s legal representative, issued a brief statement emphasizing his client’s innocence. He said the jury would hear some half-truths, some “deliberate exaggerations” and “many goddamn lies”.

He asked the jury to consider the motivations of the complainants and consider whether the encounters “could reasonably be considered consensual at the time”.

During Ms Agnew’s statement, she discussed interviews that Mr Spacey had carefully given to British police. During one of those, she said, Mr. Spacey said it was “quite possible and even probable” that he had made “a clumsy pass” at other men, but that he would never have touched anyone’s crotch “without a token of consent .”

Throughout Ms. Agnew’s nearly 60-minute opening statement, Mr. Spacey sat in a large clear box in the center of the courtroom, wearing a light gray suit, white shirt and gold tie, watching intently. On several occasions he looked at photographs in a bundle of evidence. When Mr. Gibbs spoke, Mr. Spacey nodded and looked at the jury.

Friday morning’s session ended shortly after Mr. Gibbs’ remarks. The public prosecutor will call the first witnesses on Monday.