Russell Brand has been jailed immediately after a jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The judge warned him to expect a "significant" custodial sentence.
Split Verdict at Southwark Crown Court
The jury reached a split decision in the widely followed case, convicting Brand on four counts while acquitting him of three others. He was found guilty of one count of rape against a 21-year-old fan in 2009, as well as three counts of sexual assault involving an MTV employee, a radio colleague, and a television worker.
Even as the verdicts were returned, Brand was freshly accused of further serious allegations.
Acquittals and Immediate Remand
The jury cleared Brand of three charges, finding him not guilty of two counts of rape—alleged to have occurred in 1999 and 2004—and one charge of attempted indecent assault dating back to 2001.
Following the decision, Judge Joel Bennathan directly addressed Brand, warning him that the consequence of these convictions is "inevitably a significant custodial term" behind bars. The judge refused bail, ordering Brand to be remanded in custody immediately until his formal sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday.
