Russell Brand has been accused of further violence towards women as he spent the first night of his 10-and-a-half-year sentence for rape and sexual assault behind bars. The comedian showed no emotion as he was handed a custodial sentence on Monday afternoon, but told his wife, Laura Gallacher, “we’ll be okay” before he was taken downstairs by dock officers at Southwark Crown Court.
Ex-girlfriend's allegations
Hours after his sentencing, Brand's ex-girlfriend Jemima Goldsmith shared a post on X in which she claimed she had to call the police on the TV personality to get him removed during a “violent incident”. The TV producer, who dated Brand for around a year in 2014, accused him of “violence, coercive control and abuse”.
She said she has neither seen nor spoken to Brand since that period. Her comments come after it was revealed last week that the Metropolitan Police is investigating further allegations against Brand, including two of rape.
Conviction and sentencing
Brand, 51, was convicted on Thursday for raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three TV and radio workers during his rise to international fame. The judge at the sentencing hearing told Brand that he harboured a "casual arrogant disregard to any woman's right to say no to you", while his fame meant he believed "you could act when you liked and how you liked".
In a lengthy statement on social media, 52-year-old Ms Goldsmith said she was "in awe of the courageous women who came forward at Brand's trial" and was "glad and relieved" he had "finally faced justice". She alleged that she "had to call the police to have him removed from my house in 2014 during a violent incident" but chose not to press charges. She said she was "worried about the impact of the press attention on my then teenage children".
Victim impact statements
During Brand's sentencing hearing on Monday the court heard about the impact his crimes had had on his victims. One of Brand’s victims called him “a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life”. She told court that his fame had left her afraid to speak out for years, adding: “His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless.”
Another had said she fears the sexual assault will “haunt me every day” and said the process of reporting the incident “felt like a marathon I had not trained for”. Sentencing Brand, Mr Justice Bennathan slammed the comedian’s “staggering arrogance” and said he had “become a sexual predator” during his rise to fame.
Release terms and family reaction
Brand is expected to serve two-thirds of his prison sentence before being released on licence. He will be on the sex offenders’ register for life. He was supported in court by his wife Laura and father Ron, who immediately launched a rant following the sentencing. When he was approached by journalists as he left court, he used the opportunity to defend his son.
A reporter asked him whether he had any message for the victims, and Ron Brand replied: "The victims? What, Russell?" He added: "The girls, you mean? ...who chased him and harassed him - is that what you mean?" He also added that his son was “strong” as he left court after the disgraced celebrity received a jail sentence. Asked how his son would cope in prison, Ron Brand told reporters: “Yeah, he’s strong, he’s strong.” Then asked how his daughter-in-law, Laura Gallacher, would hold up with her husband in prison, Mr Brand said: "She’s strong as well."
Earlier, Brand's wife Laura, who has vowed to stand by him, made no expression and answered no questions as she walked out of Southwark Crown Court and got into a black minivan parked behind a crowd outside.
