Russell Brand has spent his first night in prison after being remanded in custody while he awaits his sentencing hearing. Sources have suggested Brand is "relatively safe" and is being "monitored around the clock" in prison until Monday November 9 when he is due to be sentenced to a "significant custodial sentence".
Remand and Reaction in Court
Yesterday Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand he would not be given the opportunity to say goodbye to his children, fearing he would flee before Monday's hearing. After being told he would be remanded, Brand loudly replied "yes My Lord".
Shortly before being convicted, Brand told his wife Laura Gallacher "Laura, I love you". However, after the guilty verdict was delivered, Brand displayed no visible reaction beyond closing his eyes.
Convictions and Acquittals
The verdicts arrived after eight hours and 30 minutes of deliberations. Jurors unanimously convicted Brand of offences against four women between 2004 and 2009 on Thursday. He was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman he encountered following a comedy performance at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009.
Brand was also convicted of sexually assaulting an MTV employee at a Soho bar, a woman at the Choice FM studios, and a Channel 4 worker who had been instructed to give him a massage.
Brand faced a total of seven charges: three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault. He was acquitted of raping a woman at a hotel in Bournemouth in 1999, during the Labour Party conference where Brand had been performing at a cabaret show.
Brand was found not guilty of attempted indecent assault after being accused of grabbing a woman's arm and pulling her towards a toilet in central London in 2001. He was further acquitted of orally raping a woman in a toilet at a London bar, an alleged attack said to have taken place while the pair had been attending a birthday party together in Soho.
Wife's Distress and Police Comment
Laura, 39, required support from a security guard while departing Court Three at Southwark Crown Court following the foreman's dramatic verdicts on Thursday afternoon. She had previously appeared distressed and seemed to be struggling with her breathing while a female companion gripped her hand as they awaited the jury's decision.
Ms Gallacher subsequently turned her head and body towards a wall and placed her hand over her mouth in disbelief upon learning her husband was being held in custody pending his sentencing this Monday.
After the hearing, Brand was remanded in custody and was reportedly "petrified" about his first night behind bars. A source told The Sun: "The first night for anyone in a jail is really daunting - and Brand was petrified. It will be a massive shock to the system to him and he will be monitored around the clock."
They added: "But he will be relatively safe and watched around the clock by officers and banged up away from other inmates to start with."
Det Supt Andy Furphy said outside court yesterday: "Today's verdict is first and foremost a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them. Without their bravery, this outcome would not have been possible. Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women. As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be."
Brand will be sentenced on Monday November 9.
