Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the bravery shown by women who came forward to report Russell Brand will “change the system”. He vowed to be “relentless” in providing more support for victims, reports PA.
Brand is in court today (Monday, November 9) to be sentenced after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The 51-year-old actor and comedian was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting three female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009.
Conviction and Custody
A four-week trial heard how Brand preyed on women that he met while 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.
However, 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.
Evidence and Reactions
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.
Following the guilty verdicts last Thursday afternoon, Mr Justice Bennathan ordered Brand to be remanded in custody immediately, where he will remain ahead of his sentencing hearing. Russell Brand's wife, Laura Gallacher, smiled at her husband and mouthed "I love you" as the disgraced star appeared in court to be sentenced.
