Russell Brand sentenced to face prison term after convictions for rape and assault
The actor-comedian was convicted of four sexual offenses in Southwark Crown Court and taken into custody after a judge denied his bail application.
By Ana Castro ·
Russell Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault in Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, ending a trial that examined allegations dating back nearly three decades. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, deliberated for more than eight hours across two days before returning the verdicts. Brand, 51, was found guilty of offenses occurring between 1999 and 2009, though he was acquitted of two other rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Judge Joel Bennathan stated that Brand faces a substantial prison sentence when he appears for sentencing on Monday. The judge rejected a bail request that would have allowed Brand to see his children, citing the risk that he might flee. "I regret the hardship caused to the children, of sure," Bennathan said. "But the hardship has been caused by serious criminal offending by their father." Brand was taken into custody immediately after the denial.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones described Brand as a calculating "sexual predator" who treated women as a "disposable commodity." She cited an excerpt from Brand’s 2007 memoir, My Booky Wook, in which he wrote, "If I want something, whether it’s a job or a woman. I will determinedly, resolutely, remove anything that’s in the way, until I possess the object of my desire." Former personal assistant Helen Berger testified that Brand had an "insane sexual appetite" and that his behavior was normalized by those around him.
Brand denied the charges, testifying that while he had led a promiscuous life as a young man, he had never forced anyone against their will. He told jurors that the case had consumed his life and that showbiz friends had abandoned him. His wife, Laura, testified as a character witness, but Brand noted that no one with relevant evidence was willing to support his defense. He gestured to his lawyers and repeatedly said, "I’m good, I’m good, I’m good," before being led away by police.
Police confirmed that they have passed their investigation into two additional rape allegations to prosecutors. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of London’s Metropolitan Police said the conviction demonstrated the resilience of the women who came forward. "Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women," Furphy said. "As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement."
The specific convictions include a 2004 sexual assault during a birthday party at a London bar, a 2004 or 2005 assault at a London radio station, and a 2009 rape of a fan at Brand’s home. The final guilty verdict involved a 2009 incident during an advertisement recording where Brand allegedly demanded a massage and pressed his face into a woman’s groin. Brand was acquitted of a 1999 alleged rape in Bournemouth and a 2005 attempted assault at an MTV office in London.
The case began after a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4 aired accusations from women who said they had been abused by Brand. The comedian rose to fame in the early 2000s through stand-up, television, and Hollywood films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. In recent years, he moved to Florida and built an online following focused on wellness and religious devotion. British law protects the identities of the victims from media disclosure for life.
