Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The 51-year-old was convicted over incidents that took place between 2004 and 2009, when he was at the height of his career as a comedian, radio and television presenter, and Hollywood actor.
Convictions and Acquittals
The trial took place at Southwark Crown Court over four weeks, with the victims reading out their impact statements when Brand was sentenced on Monday, November 9. He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
Brand was convicted by the jury of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker in 2009 after she was forced to give him a massage. The judge referred to the “childish sexual comments” Brand made during the assault, in the presence of two of his male colleagues. He had asked the woman whether she had “a dick or fanny”. Brand appeared visibly surprised in the dock as the passage was read.
Other Charges and Sentencing
Brand also faced charges for groping an MTV worker at a party in a Soho bar in 2004; he was found not guilty of raping her in a toilet. He was also convicted of kissing and groping a Capital Radio worker after encountering her in a corridor in 2005. He was found guilty of raping a fan after meeting her at a stand-up comedy show at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009.
Prosecutors said the 51-year-old had used his fame and celebrity status to pursue women, describing him as “a calculated sexual predator”. He showed no reaction to his sentence, but stopped for a moment before being taken down to the cells as he faced his wife, Laura Brand, formerly Laura Gallacher, and mouthed: "I love you".
Reaction and Aftermath
Brand is expected to serve two-thirds behind bars before being considered for release on licence, and will be on the sex offenders’ register for life. David Roberts, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, thanked the women who provided evidence throughout the trial.
After Brand was sentenced on November 9, he said: “Today’s result shows that fame, status and the passage of time do not change the fundamental issue of consent. No matter who the abuser is, or what the situation or circumstances are, we will always take allegations of rape and sexual assault seriously. I hope this outcome encourages anyone who may have experienced sexual assault to come forward and report what happened, knowing that they will be listened to and supported throughout the process.”
