Southwark Crown Court heard how Spacey was "turned on" by his alleged victims getting angry at him and believed they would not come forward due to his fame.
Oscar-winning actor, Kevin Spacey, 63, has been accused of attacking four men in charges dating back as far as 22 years.
Southwark Crown Court heard how Spacey was "turned on" by his alleged victims getting angry at him and believed they would not come forward due to his fame.
He "abused the power and influence that his reputation and fame afforded him" to target the four men, jurors were told.
Spacey was said to have also taken advantage of his popularity and prominence, his illustriousness and influence to take what and whom he wanted when he wanted.
The Hollywood star is accused of predatory behaviour against the complainants, then aged in their early 20s to early 30s, who had the misfortune of attracting his attention.
The Guardian UK reports that Spacey has previously denied 12 charges, including sexual assault and indecent assault, against four men between 2001 and 2013. Wearing a grey suit and yellow tie, the 63-year-old stood in the dock at Southwark crown court in London as the prosecution opened its case.
Opening the case on Friday, prosecutor Christine Agnew KC told the jury that they may feel “star-struck or overwhelmed” to try such a famous person while she described Spacey as an extremely famous actor who has won a number of awards.
The prosecutor described Spacey as 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”.
“His preferred method of assault is it appears to grab aggressively other men in the crotch. On one occasion things went further than that,” she said
She said the alleged offences took place when Spacey was residing and working in the UK. “None of the men wanted to be touched by Kevin Spacey Fowler in a sexual way but he doesn’t seem to have cared very much for their feelings – he did what he wanted to do – for his own personal sexual gratification,” Agnew said.
Spacey smiled as he arrived at court in a taxi on Friday before entering the dock at 10.30am on the second day of his month-long trial.
Agnew told the jury that Spacey suggested some of the allegations were made up. “In relation to others, he accepts that there was a sexual encounter between him and the other man but asserts that anything that took place would have taken place with the consent of the other man,” she added.
Before the jury panel was selected on Wednesday, the judge, Mr Justice Wall, told prospective jurors: “I am sure the defendant will be gratified to know that many of you will know his name or have seen his films.”
Jurors heard the four alleged victims were aged in their 20s or 30s when they "attracted the attention" of the star.
Despite not wanting to be "touched", Spacey didn't "care very much for their feelings" and "aggressively" groped them anyway, it was said.
One alleged victim claimed Spacey was very "touchy-feely" and claimed his "getting angry simply turned [Spacey] on".
Jurors heard how the actor "banked" on him not coming forward due to his fame and power and believed he would be "too embarrassed, too ashamed to make the complaint".
The man claims Spacey touched him inappropriately over his clothing and "grabbed him so hard he almost came off the road" while he was driving the pair in London once.
A second complainant, who first worked with Spacey at an event at The Haymarket Theatre, said the actor grabbed his genitals with such force that it was "painful".
He also claimed the star made a remark about him being black and asked him "have we f***ed?" and if he had a "big c**k".
Jurors also heard how the third man claims he woke up to find Spacey performing a sex act on him.
He had approached Spacey after leaving drama school for some mentoring and was "starstruck" when the star asked him if he wanted to go for a beer, it was said.
They met at the actor's flat where the man claims he was left feeling uncomfortable and "vulnerable" when Spacey allegedly put his face in his crotch.
Jurors were told after the alleged sexual assault, he pushed Spacey off and left but later "cried" at a bus stop.
The fourth man met Spacey at a pub in a village west of Oxford in 2013 and went back to his with a group of people.
He claims once there, the actor kissed his neck twice and said "be cool, be cool" before grabbing his crotch.