Dan Walker has spoken out after Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault. The Channel 5 News presenter said he is "struggling to get my head around the number of people who are convinced that Russell Brand has done nothing wrong."
On Monday, November 9, the disgraced comedian was sentenced for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women. The offences occurred between 2004 and 2009 during his rise to international stardom, with incidents taking place at his home in Hampstead, a Soho bar, a Channel 4 radio studio, and a Capital Radio building.
Walker's Response to the Sentencing
Walker, who presented the four-week trial coverage, said he cannot work out if those defending Brand are "trying to provoke a response for attention or genuinely believe that the entire legal system is involved in some sort of conspiracy to put a convicted rapist behind bars."
The former BBC Breakfast broadcaster said it is "appalling to think about what some women went through at the hands of Russell Brand." He added that Brand is "responsible for what he did," but also described it as "awful to imagine how many people knew what was going on and either ignored or enabled it."
Judge's Remarks and Public Reaction
Despite Brand's not guilty plea, Mr Justice Bennathan described him as a "sexual predator" who harboured a "casual, arrogant disregard" for a woman's right to refuse consent.
Walker's comments drew an outpouring of support from fans, with one saying: "I can't believe it myself. The amount of people sticking up for him is shocking. The 'we all knew what he was like' is not a reason for him to ruin someone's life!! I bet if it was their wife/daughter/family member, they would think differently!!" Another called the situation "absolutely staggering," while a third argued: "Unfortunately, Dan, it's called an opinion, and everyone has one."
Sentence Details
The judge sentenced Brand to nine years for the rape charge, with additional terms of 18 months, nine months, and eight months for the sexual assaults. These terms run concurrently to each other but consecutively to the rape sentence.
Brand is expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison before being eligible for release on licence. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register.
