Kevin Spacey is a โsexual bullyโ who preys on men and doesnโt โrespect personal boundaries,โ a British prosecutor said Friday morning at the start of the actorโs sexual assault trial in London.
The Oscar- and Tony-winning actor is charged with 12 offenses against four men, who are now in their 30s and 40s. The allegations date from 2001 to 2013, when Spacey was the artistic director of Londonโs prestigious Old Vic theater.
Spacey has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include sexual assault, indecent assault and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
During her opening statement, prosecutor Christine Agnew described the once-celebrated actor as โa man who does not respect personal boundaries or space, a man who it would seem delights in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable โ a sexual bully.โ
โHe is an extremely famous actor who has won a number of awardsโ and who also โsexually assaults other men,โ she said.
Jurors also heard that Spaceyโs โpreferred method of assault is, it appears, to grab aggressively other men in the crotch.โ On one occasion, she said, Mr. Spacey had gone further and performed oral sex on a man while he was asleep.
Spaceyโs defense lawyer, Patrick Gibbs, suggested the alleged victims might have had other reasons to accuse the gay actor, who didnโt publicly come out until age 58. Gibbs told the jurors to ask themselves โwhat has been made up or twisted, and why and when, because all of these allegations happened a long time ago.โ
The trial is expected to last four weeks. The former House of Cards star could be imprisoned for a long time if convicted. The most serious charge he faces โ engaging in penetrative sexual activity without consent โ carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.