Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

The complainant said Kevin Spacey once grabbed him so hard he had to stop and tell the actor “not to do that again”.

The man described Spacey as a “slippery, snaky, difficult person”.

“He would tell me he had a troubled childhood,” the complainant said in his interview with police.

“He was a confused man. Didn’t know at the time whether he was gay or straight.”

In his interview, the man said Spacey would touch him on and off and said it was “almost like grooming”.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

The 12 jurors, nine men and three women, are looking up at a screen which is hung on one of the courtroom walls.

They are watching the video of an interview which complainant one, who is one of the four men who’ve accused Kevin Spacey of sexual offences, gave to the police.

Spacey is also looking at the same screen from the large glass dock where he is sitting.

The Hollywood actor is leaning forward listening intently.

As the prosecution evidence is heard in this case, it's important to remember there will be some sexual references in this page, which some readers may find distressing.

Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

The complainant says Kevin Spacey was “an individual who didn’t like to walk through the front entrances, he liked to go through the side entrances”.

He adds: “I was with him for years and saw absolutely everything which was going on at that time.”

The man says Spacey was “touchy feely”.

“I found it quite eerie and awkward,” he says as he describes Spacey “touching his neck”.

Over more months, Spacey’s hands “would come over and start to grope me”, the man says in his interview.

“He would laugh it off or change the subject,” he says.

Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

From where I am sitting in the court I can just about see the video evidence the jury is watching, but the audio is loud and clear.

It starts with the complainant, who we cannot name or identify for legal reasons, introducing himself.

He gives a bit of background and accepts everything in this interview is true and accurate to the best of his knowledge.

The complainant starts by detailing allegations of Spacey assaulting him “up to 12 times”.

“He grabbed me in private areas, and got my hands on him at different times," he says.

“In a car or in a lift any time when we became alone. Multiple occasions he would try and grope me. It would make me very uncomfortable.”

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Only the judge, jury and legal teams will be able to see the witness when he gives evidence from behind a curtain later.

Kevin Spacey won’t be able to. Nor will the press or those in the public gallery.

Giving evidence from behind a screen is one of a number of special measures available to certain witnesses.

It’s at the discretion of the court as to whether a special measure is put in place.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

The judge has explained to the jury that complainant one, who they will hear from after the video evidence is played, is going to give evidence from behind a curtain.

Justice Wall says it’s done in that way so the witness can “concentrate better on the evidence…without the distraction of what is quite an intimidating moment”.

The judge added that the witness should be “judged in the same way as any other witness”.

He also added that the fact that the witness will be behind a curtain “must not reflect in any way on the defendant”.

Thomas Mackintosh
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Justice Wall tells jurors the case will hear from the first complainant by way of a video recording, as he explains the jury will be played the interview the complainant first gave to police.

“You should treat this as his evidence in chief,” the judge says.

The complainant is not currently present in court, but the judge says he will be called so to answer questions from Kevin Spacey’s defence barrister Patrick Gibbs KC.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

The judge, Mr Justice Wall, has just come into the courtroom.

The jury are also now being brought into court.

Kevin Spacey is sitting in the glass dock, leaning forward listening to the judge.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Kevin Spacey has just walked into courtroom one.

He’s wearing a grey suit, blue shirt and a red tie with white polka dot spots.

The courtroom is full with legal teams and members of the media.

We are just waiting for the judge to come in.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

The next stage in a criminal trial is for the prosecution evidence to be heard, which we expect to start this morning.

The prosecution can call witnesses to court and both the prosecution and defence can question them.

When one party questions a witness called by the other side, it’s called cross-examination.

Prosecutor Christine Agnew KC has already told the jury that they will hear from the four men who have accused Kevin Spacey of sexual offences.

More now on what the court heard on Friday when the trial began.

Prosecutor Christine Agnew opened the trial and urged jurors to concentrate on the evidence and not to feel "starstruck" because of the actor's fame.

She told jurors that Spacey was "a man who does not respect personal boundaries or space, a man who it would seem delights in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable, a sexual bully".

She also detailed what the complainants allege happened when they met Spacey.

Defence barrister Patrick Gibbs also gave a short opening speech telling the court his client would "say in full in due course what actually happened".

He said the allegations, which Spacey denies, happened "a long time ago" and suggested elements had been "reimagined with a sinister spin", "made up or twisted" and "deliberately exaggerated".

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

The prosecution’s case against Kevin Spacey opened on Friday.

The opening is designed to introduce the jury to the case and outline any issues that will or may come up during the trial.

Jurors also heard a short opening from Kevin Spacey’s defence barrister Patrick Gibbs KC.

Spacey arrived at the court in London just before 8am.

The actor faces twelve counts of alleged sexual offences, dating from 2001 to 2013.

They are:

• Three counts of indecent assault
• Seven counts of sexual assault
• One count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent
• One count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent

Spacey denies the charges.

Image source, Reuters

Born Kevin Spacey Fowler, the American actor began his career in theatre before moving into film and television - winning the Oscar for best actor for his role in the 1999 film, American Beauty.

His other notable films include The Usual Suspects - for which he also won an Oscar - and Seven.

Spacey, 63, was appointed as artistic director of London’s The Old Vic theatre in 2004, a position he held until 2015.

He also appeared in the long-running Netflix political series, House of Cards, playing a congressman who becomes president.

Spacey came out as gay in 2017, saying: “I choose now to live as a gay man."

In January, he was given a lifetime achievement award in Italy in recognition of his “contribution to the development of the art of drama”.

Image source, PA Media

Good morning and thanks for joining our coverage of Kevin Spacey’s trial in London.

The Oscar winning actor is facing 12 allegations of sexual offences against four men, now in their 30s and 40s, allegations he denies.

This is the second day of the trial, and the prosecution evidence will be heard this morning.

Spacey will be appearing in court under his birth name Kevin Spacey Fowler.

We’ve got Thomas Mackintosh and Helena Wilkinson in Southwark Crown Court today to keep you updated on proceedings, stay with us.