Russell Brand's father has claimed his convicted rapist son is the real "victim" of his case, blaming women "who chased him and who harassed him" in an outburst outside court.
Ron Brand launched into an extraordinary defence of his son outside Southwark Crown Court on Monday, where the former TV star was jailed for 10-and-a-half years. Brand was sentenced for raping a fan and sexually assaulting three women working in TV and radio during his rise to international fame.
Father's Heated Exchange with Journalists
His father, who watched the sentencing from the public gallery, was confronted by journalists as he left the central London court wearing a trilby hat and wool coat. Asked whether he had a message for his son's victims, Mr Brand hit back: "The victims, what victim? What, Russell? The girls, you mean, who chased him and who harassed him, is that what you mean?"
In a heated exchange, Mr Brand refused to accept the jury's verdict and appeared to suggest jurors could have been selected because of their views about his son.
Jury Verdict Challenged
Told that Brand had been convicted by a jury, he replied: "I don't care. It's the system. I don't believe it on the basis of what I've just watched. See, we've got social media. It's easy to find the right jury. Go on Facebook and see the sort of things they are saying about Russell. Are you saying you couldn't go on social media and look at what people are saying, and find people who are attacking Russell Brand? Are you saying that?"
Asked how his son would cope in prison, Mr 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."
Sentencing and Family Support
The disgraced celebrity showed no emotion as he was jailed for 10 years and six months, but told his wife "we'll be OK" as he was taken downstairs by the dock officers. The couple shared a brief conversation before the shamed comedian was taken downstairs.
One member of Brand's entourage held a Bible with passages highlighted, as they sat behind Brand in rows of the public gallery during his sentencing. The Bible was open to Exodus 14, which includes passages about Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea.
