Kevin Spacey's 'preferred method of assault' is to 'aggressively grab men in the crotch,' court told
Yuki Iwamura/AP
- Spacey is on trial in the UK following allegations by four men that say he sexually assaulted them.
- The movie star faces 12 charges, one of which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
- Spacey's lawyer said all of the accusations are "completely denied."
The prosecution in Kevin Spacey's sexual assault trial told the court that the actor's "preferred method of assault" is to "aggressively grab men in the crotch," Sky News reported.
US actor Spacey, 63, is on trial in the UK following allegations by four men that say he sexually assaulted them. The allegations against Spacey took place during the more than a decade he spent in London working at the Old Vic theatre.
The two-time Oscar winner has previously denied 12 charges against him, which include sexual assault and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The latter charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Spacey, who was described in court as a "sexual bully" who "delights in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable," is alleged to have grabbed or groped three men, while one claims he awoke to Spacey "sucking" his penis, per Sky News.
Two of the four victims, who were all in their 20s or 30s at the time the alleged incidents were said to have taken place, noted the force of Spacey's actions. One alleged the actor "grabbed him so hard" in a car that he nearly drove off the road, while another accused Spacey of grabbing his penis with "such force it was painful."
The prosecution also alleged that Spacey gets turned on when his actions spark anger in his victims.
Christine Agnew, who opened the prosecution's case, said Spacey was "an extremely famous actor who has won many awards and starred in many movies," but he was "also a man who sexually assaults other men."
Spacey won Oscars for best actor in 2000 for "American Beauty" and best-supporting actor in "The Usual Suspects" in 1996,
Agnew added that "none of the men wanted to be touched by the defendant in a sexual way," but Spacey "did what he wanted to do for his own sexual gratification."
Patrick Gibbs KC, Spacey's lawyer, said, "Each of these allegations of non-consensual sexual conduct is completely denied," Reuters reported.
"Mr. Spacey has come back to the UK as he said he would to answer them and say in full in due course what actually happened as he would say it and put all the rumors and conjecture to bed," he added.
The trial is due to last about four weeks.