Jurors have been sent out to begin their deliberations after hearing closing evidence in the sexual offences trial against US actor Kevin Spacey.

Spacey, 63, has been labelled a “sexual bully” by the prosecution, but he has denied all the claims – describing one as “madness”, others as consensual encounters, and one as nothing more than a potential “clumsy pass”.

The Oscar-winning star has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of sexual assault, one charge of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity. These relate to four men and allegedly took place in the UK between 2001 and 2013.

Kevin Spacey trial – live updates

Almost four weeks since the trial at Southwark Crown Court in London began, Mr Justice Mark Wall sent jurors out to consider their verdicts on Monday.

During the hearing, jurors have heard evidence from each of Spacey’s four accusers, who variously described the Hollywood star as a “vile sexual predator”, “slippery”, and “atrocious, despicable, disgusting”.

The court has been told of alleged “aggressive” crotch grabs against three men, while a fourth complainant accused the defendant of performing a sex act on him while he was asleep at his flat.

What are the allegations – and how has Kevin Spacey responded?

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Under questioning from Spacey’s lawyer, Patrick Gibbs KC, the men have all denied either seeking financial gain, attempting to further their career, or giving false accounts to the jury.

Spacey, best known for films including The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, and political series House Of Cards, has denied crotch-grabs are his “trademark”, and also fought back tears as he told the court how his “world exploded” when allegations against him were first made in the US in 2017.

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