Russell Brand has been found guilty of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women, and a judge has warned the 51-year-old he could face years in prison. At Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, November 5, a jury deliberated for eight and a half hours before returning the verdicts.
Brand's victims came to court to reveal how he had forced them into sexual activity, sometimes within seconds of first meeting, using his fame to pursue a goal of sex with 5,000 women.
Guilty verdicts and acquittals
The Press Association reported that the comedian closed his eyes as he was found guilty of raping a young fan he met after one of his Hammersmith Apollo shows in 2009. He was also found guilty of groping another MTV worker during a party at a Soho bar in 2004, but was not guilty of going on to rape her in a toilet.
Brand was also convicted of kissing and groping a Capital Radio worker after encountering her in a corridor in 2005. The jury also found him guilty of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker in 2009 when she had been forced to give him a massage.
The jury found Brand not guilty of raping a woman he met at a cabaret show on the fringes of the 1999 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
Judge's warning and next steps
After the verdict, Mr Justice Bennathan said Brand could be handed a lengthy sentence. The judge told the court: "Sit down Mr Brand. Mr Winter, Ms Karmy-Jones, just on what happens next given the verdict on count six at least, obviously a custodial sentence of some length will result."
The judge said the case was "very well prepared", adding the sentencing hearing would take place on Monday.
The trial lasted almost four weeks. Brand told his wife Laura Gallacher "I love you" after entering the dock, but displayed no emotion as the jury delivered its verdicts.
