One of actor Kevin Spacey 害羞草研究所榮 accusers described the Oscar-winner in court Monday as a 害羞草研究所渟lippery, snaky害羞草研究所� predator who good-looking, young men were warned to avoid.

The man, who worked with the American actor when he came to the Old Vic Theatre in London in the early 2000s, said Spacey told him he could introduce him to Hollywood stars. But the man said that word around the playhouse was that he should be careful around Spacey.

害羞草研究所淚t was well known he was up to no good,害羞草研究所� the man said in a video of his police interview played for jurors in Spacey害羞草研究所檚 sexual assault trial. 害羞草研究所淗e was almost right from the get-go grooming me.害羞草研究所�

He said Spacey made him uncomfortable querying him about his sexuality, then became 害羞草研究所渢ouchy feely害羞草研究所� and graduated to aggressive groping when they were alone together.

The man, who cannot be identified under British law, likened Spacey to the villain he plays in the 1995 thriller 害羞草研究所淪e7en害羞草研究所� about a serial killer motivated by the seven deadly sins.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a bit like that, a bit creepy,害羞草研究所� the man said in his police interview last year.

Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges involving four men for events that date from 2001 to 2013. The charges include sexual assault, indecent assault and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

He could go to prison if convicted, though Spacey told a German magazine that he expects he害羞草研究所檒l be offered work 害羞草研究所渢he moment I am cleared of these charges.害羞草研究所�

The case expected to last four weeks continues Tuesday before a jury of nine men and three women in Southwark Crown Court.

Once one of the biggest actors of his generation, Spacey won an Academy Award for supporting actor in 害羞草研究所淭he Usual Suspects害羞草研究所� in 1995 and best actor Oscar for the 1999 movie 害羞草研究所淎merican Beauty.害羞草研究所� He害羞草研究所檚 also won awards for the stage and small screen.

His career dried up when sexual misconduct allegations against him arose as the #MeToo movement exploded. He was written off the Netflix political thriller 害羞草研究所淗ouse of Cards,害羞草研究所� and cut from the completed film 害羞草研究所淎ll the Money in the World.害羞草研究所�

The actor, who has homes in the U.S. and London, is free on bail. He served as artistic director at the Old Vic from 2003 until 2015.

The man said he reacted with horror when Spacey made first contact by rubbing his neck early in their work relationship in the early 2000s.

害羞草研究所淭he first time that he touched me was just a massive shock,害羞草研究所� he testified. 害羞草研究所淚 just don害羞草研究所檛 like people害羞草研究所檚 hands on me.害羞草研究所�

When he complained to a woman he worked for, she laughed it off and she said, 害羞草研究所淵ou can cope, you can handle it. We all know what he害羞草研究所檚 like,害羞草研究所� he said.

The man said he decided he 害羞草研究所渄idn害羞草研究所檛 want to upset the apple cart害羞草研究所� and got on with his job.

But as Spacey escalated to grabbing the man in the crotch and taking the man害羞草研究所檚 hand and using it to rub his own privates over the pants, he began to dread when Spacey would return to London.

Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs on cross-examination suggested that the man, who was disguised in court behind a curtain, was confused by the touching and even got a thrill from it.

害羞草研究所淣othing happened between us. He was assaulting me,害羞草研究所� the man said. 害羞草研究所淚 was doing my job and he was the one touching me.害羞草研究所澓π卟菅芯克鶛

Gibbs confronted the man with a photo he posted six years ago on social media of him and Spacey in which his arm appears to be around Spacey害羞草研究所檚 back.

害羞草研究所淒id it make you feel sick to stand there side by side?害羞草研究所� Gibbs asked.

The man said he used the image to promote his business.

害羞草研究所淎nyone who does social media would have killed for a picture like that,害羞草研究所� the man said.

He said the final straw for working with Spacey came on a day he was driving him to a celebrity-studded summer gala in 2004 or 2005 when the star violently gripped his crotch and he nearly ran off the road.

害羞草研究所淗e grabbed me really hard and it really hurt,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 pushed him against the door and said, 害羞草研究所楧on害羞草研究所檛 do that again or I will knock you out.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 such a turn on to me,害羞草研究所� he said Spacey replied. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e such a man.害羞草研究所�

Gibbs, however, said that Spacey only attended that party once 害羞草研究所� three or four years earlier than the witness claimed.

The defense lawyer also showed jurors a snapshot the man had sent Spacey of himself as thanks for supporting him on a hike for charity in the Rocky Mountains of North America. The man had also kept a warm letter Spacey had written him after donating 5,000-pound ($6,350) for the trek.

The man said he told a few people in his life about his experience with Spacey, fearing it could affect his career. He said he decided to come forward last year, after Spacey had been charged with assaulting the three other alleged victims in the case.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 a big part of it,害羞草研究所� the man said. 害羞草研究所淪trength in numbers, isn害羞草研究所檛 it?害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淥r is it that in 2022, you saw a bandwagon coming past and you decided to hop on board?害羞草研究所� Gibbs asked.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 not true at all,害羞草研究所� the man said.

Two decades later, the man said he has never overcome the shame he felt and cannot bring himself to view Spacey害羞草研究所檚 films or TV shows.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 stand watching the man. It makes me feel sick,害羞草研究所� the man said.

Brian Melley, The Associated Press