Russell Brand’s father said his son was “strong” as he left court after the disgraced celebrity was jailed for 10 years and six months in prison after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
The shamed star was branded a “sexual predator” by Mr Justice Bennathan at Southwark Crown Court, as he was jailed for his crimes. The judge ordered Brand, 51, to start his prison sentence immediately after being found guilty last Thursday afternoon, sending him straight to prison.
Brand showed no emotion as he was jailed for 10 years and six months, but told his wife, Laura Gallacher, “We’ll be OK” as he was taken downstairs by the dock officers.
Father’s comments outside court
Brand’s father, Ronald Henry Brand, said his son was “strong” as he left court following the sentencing. Asked how his son would cope in prison, Mr Brand told reporters: “Yeah, he’s strong, he’s strong.” Then asked how his daughter-in-law, Mrs Gallacher, would hold up with her husband in prison, Mr Brand said: “She’s strong as well.”
Mrs Gallacher was seen breathing deeply and muttering “it’s okay, it’s okay” as a large posse of people ushered her through the corridors of the court following the sentence. She made no expression and answered no questions as she walked out of court and got into a black minivan parked behind a crowd outside.
Court scene and trial background
Cameras flashed, and the crowd pushed tight around the team that flanked Laura Gallacher, which included security. Journalists pressed against the car as it drove away at around 2.45pm.
A four-week trial heard how Brand preyed on women he encountered on his way to becoming one of Britain’s best-known comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood actor who was briefly married to singer Katy Perry. He claimed to have only ever had consensual sex during a “promiscuous” life, which he insisted had been packed with “idiocy” but never illegal.
Victims’ accounts and evidence
But his victims told a different story, of a famous and powerful man who kissed and groped women within seconds of meeting them, pursued his sexual ambitions relentlessly, and laughed at and gaslit women after the attacks.
Friends and former colleagues of Brand also came forward to give evidence of his ambition to sleep with 5,000 women, an “insane” sexual appetite, and his bad behaviour towards women being “normalised” as he became increasingly famous. Questions asked to Mrs Gallacher included, “Why are you standing by him?” and “How do you feel? Do you have a message to the victims?”.
