Laura Gallacher, the wife of disgraced comedian Russell Brand, gave a one-word response to reporters and photographers as she arrived at Southwark Crown Court for her husband's sentencing. The 39-year-old, who has stood by Brand throughout the proceedings, muttered "morning" after a photographer greeted her.
Brand, 51, was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault relating to offences between 2004 and 2009. Following the verdict, Mr Justice Bennathan ordered that Brand be taken into custody immediately, and the judge is expected to pass sentence this morning.
Guilty Verdict and Immediate Custody
Gallacher left the court in tears after the guilty verdict was delivered. Brand was seen mouthing "I'm OK" to his lawyers before being led to the cells. The judge is expected to hear impact statements from Brand's victims and legal submissions from lawyers before passing sentence.
The four-week trial heard how Brand preyed on women while rising to fame as one of Britain's best-known comedians, a TV and radio host, and a Hollywood actor. Brand claimed he had only ever had consensual sex during a "promiscuous" life, which he described as full of "idiocy" but never illegal acts.
Victims' Testimonies
His victims told a different story, describing 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 also gave evidence of Brand's ambition to sleep with 5,000 women, an "insane" sexual appetite, and his bad behaviour towards women being "normalised" as he became increasingly famous.
Brand was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan in 2009 after meeting her following a stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo. The woman told jurors she had willingly engaged in a threesome with him backstage despite having a boyfriend, but a consensual encounter turned into rape when Brand forced her into anal sex at his Hampstead home.
Other Assault Convictions
Another woman told the court how Brand groped her breasts in the Nordic bar in Soho seconds after being introduced to her at a 2004 party. In 2005, Brand kissed and groped a third woman during a visit to Capital Radio studios in London. Brand was also convicted of putting his head into the groin of a female Channel 4 worker after she was forced to give him a massage in 2009.
The woman told the court how Brand refused to continue a recording session unless she massaged him, and members of his entourage encouraged it instead of protecting her. Brand will now learn the length of his prison sentence, with the judge having warned him he faces a 'significant' jail term.
