Russell Brand is due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday after being found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The jury verdict was delivered on Thursday (November 5) following a four-week trial.
The court heard that Brand preyed on women he encountered while becoming one of Britain's best-known stand-up comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood movie star. His victims came to court to reveal how Brand had forced them into sexual activity, sometimes within seconds of them first meeting, using his immense fame to pursue a goal of sex with 5,000 women.
Guilty verdicts and immediate custody
Brand, now 51, was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
Despite an appeal from Brand's defence barrister for bail so he could say goodbye to his children, Mr Justice Bennathan ordered him to start his prison sentence immediately after being found guilty last Thursday afternoon, sending him straight to prison. He has been held at HMP Wandsworth in London since his verdict.
Significant custodial term expected
Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand that he will "inevitably" face a "significant custodial term", details of which will be revealed during his sentencing today.
The sentencing comes after Brand was found guilty of:
- Groping an MTV worker during a party at a Soho bar in 2004 but not guilty of going on to orally rape her in a toilet
- Sexually assaulting a radio worker after encountering her in a corridor in 2005
- Raping a 21-year-old fan after meeting her at a 2009 stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo
- Sexually assaulting a TV worker during a forced massage in 2009
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