An alleged victim of Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey told a police officer the Hollywood star’s sexual advances were “like he thought he could groom me”, a court has been told.
Jurors at Southwark Crown Court were shown footage of the interview, in which the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described Spacey as a “slippery, snaky, difficult person”.
The 63-year-old defendant has been described by the prosecution as a “sexual bully” as he stands trial accused of sex offences against four men between 2001 and 2013.
On Monday, one complainant said he was “disgusted” with the alleged sex assaults, saying: “He would try to grope me and try to grab me and make me feel very uncomfortable.”
The man said Spacey told him he could introduce him to A-list stars, and said when he tried to fight back against one of the alleged assaults, the actor replied: “That’s such a turn on to me. You’re such a man.”
Outlining his allegations against the defendant, the man said: “He grabbed me in private areas and then tried to get my hands on him.”
The alleged victim said he tried to “blank out” what happened.
He told the officer about an incident in which he drove Spacey to a “lavish” showbiz party in the early 2000s.
Describing what he said happened to him, the man said: “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’.”
It’s like he thought he could groom me— First alleged victim of Kevin Spacey
Continuing to talk about the incident, one of Spacey’s alleged victims told the police officer: “I was disgusted that he had done that.”
The court heard the alleged victim describe the actor as “very touchy feely”.
He told the police officer: “Obviously being a man’s man and a professional I found it quite eerie and just awkward. He made me feel so awkward and uneasy.”
The man said the actor became “very friendly” and started to grab him on several occasions, and the alleged victim told him to stop.
He added: “He sort of left me and didn’t say anything. He would just laugh it off and change the subject.”
The man could be seen describing Spacey as a “slippery, snaky, difficult person” and a “very mixed-up individual”.
He would squeeze my bum and would rub my legs— First alleged victim of Kevin Spacey
He continued: “He grabbed me. He grabbed me a good few times.
“He would squeeze my bum and would rub my legs.”
The man said he could now no longer watch any of his films or TV programmes, including Netflix show House of Cards.
He said in his police interview: “I can’t stand watching the man. It makes me feel sick.”
The man told the officer Spacey was “pretending to be nice” but was a “predator” who was “aggressive”.
He added: “He was obviously very messed up with his sexuality.”
It wasn't naughty, it was disgusting— First alleged victim of Kevin Spacey
After the interview was played to the jury, Spacey’s lawyer Patrick Gibbs KC asked the alleged victim what his initial reaction was.
The complainant said: “The first time that he touched me was, yes, just a massive shock, just a massive shock to me.”
Asked if he was “amused” by the actor’s behaviour, he replied: “No, not at all. The opposite of amused. You will probably know the word for that”.
He said: “It makes me feel angry, it makes me feel angry, you certainly wouldn’t feel amused by it.”
Asked by Mr Gibbs if he thought the actor’s advances were “naughty”, the complainant said: “It wasn’t naughty, it was disgusting.”
“And also nice?” asked Mr Gibbs.
“Not nice at all,” the witness replied.
Spacey pleaded not guilty in January to three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The two-time Academy Award winner also previously denied four further charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
The trial continues.
