Russell Brand is reportedly 'petrified' after spending his first night in prison, where he was given an 'inedible' microwave meal, following his conviction for rape and sexual assault.
The 51-year-old was remanded in custody after jurors at Southwark Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others, with crimes spanning 2004 to 2009. Mr Justice Bennathan warned him he faced a "significant custodial sentence".
Details of the Convictions
The guilty verdicts covered the rape of a 21-year-old woman he encountered after a comedy performance at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009. He was also found guilty 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.
Prosecutors are considering whether to bring charges concerning allegations involving two additional women, including one who was 16 at the time. Brand had faced seven charges in total: three of rape, three of sexual assault, and one of attempted indecent assault.
Acquittals and First Night in Custody
He was acquitted of raping a woman in a Bournemouth hotel in 1999, cleared of an attempted indecent assault charge in 2001, and acquitted of orally raping a woman in a bar toilet in London.
According to reports, Brand had to hand over his clothes in reception before being strip-searched and scanned. His first-night meal was an "inedible" microwave offering, and he was given a 'first-night pack' containing basic toiletries and food items such as cereal, tea, milk, and sugar. He was allowed one three-minute phone call, although who he called remains unknown.
Police Concerns and Calls for Reform
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, the senior detective leading the probe, said he believes Brand remains a danger to women. Furphy stated: "Yes, I do. I think he's got that position of power and trust and millions of followers." He added: "What I will say is, our work isn't done. There is a live investigation still taking place."
Furphy urged any additional victims to come forward, saying: "I do think there's a possibility that more women may come forward. What I would say, that if you've been a victim of rape or sexual offence by Russell Brand and you've not yet spoken to police then come forward."
The trial has prompted demands for legal reforms to address "rape myths" in courtrooms. Claire Waxman, England and Wales' Victims' Commissioner, is calling for a legal duty in the Courts and Tribunals Bill requiring judges to direct juries on rape myths in every rape trial. She stated: "The idea that rape victims must scream, physically resist or immediately report an offence is a well-established rape myth, rooted in outdated and harmful assumptions about how victims are expected to behave."
Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday following his conviction for one count of rape and three charges of sexual assault.
