Laura Gallacher is standing by her husband Russell Brand despite the “total devastation” of his rape and sexual assault convictions, his defence lawyer told the court today. Brand, 51, is set to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court this afternoon.
Brand's defence lawyer, Mr Ian Winter KC, told the court that Gallacher, 39, is “standing by” her husband. She was seen crying when she left the courtroom after the guilty verdict was read out last week.
Family impact and court submissions
Ian Winter KC told the court on Monday that the couple have been “wrestling with how to explain” to their 10-year-old child what has happened to their father. Gallacher, the daughter of Ryder Cup winning golfer Bernard Gallacher and sister of sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher, joined eight other members of Brand’s entourage in the public gallery, including the comedian’s father, Ronald.
During his submissions ahead of Mr Justice Bennathan’s sentencing, Mr Winter said: “I’m afraid words are completely inadequate to truly try to convey to your Lordship the total devastation she’s experiencing. Currently (they) are wrestling with how to exactly explain to a child who’s just turned 10 what has happened here. It brings home the consequences of this conduct to totally innocent people who have been caught up in it.”
Courtroom exchanges
Before the sentencing hearing began, Brand started to pray and told his wife: “It’ll be okay, I don’t know how, but it will.” Gallacher said “oh God” as she saw Brand enter the dock, before telling him: “I love you.” Brand winked and nodded at his wife and members of his entourage while clutching a crucifix before a lunch break was taken ahead of sentencing.
Gallacher previously gave evidence to the jury, describing her husband as “caring” and “kind”, adding that there is honesty at the centre of their marriage. She told the court she was “very aware” of his promiscuity before their marriage in 2017, and that she could “read about it regularly in the papers”.
Trial background and convictions
During the trial, Brand and Gallacher continued recording their Sunday Service podcasts, detailing their thoughts on faith and the justice process. Gallacher spoke about her “nerves” before arriving at court and compared the experience to being in the “eye of the storm”. She also referenced the courthouse address, Battle Bridge Lane, suggesting it was apt because “you don your armour”.
A four-week trial heard how Brand preyed on women he encountered on his way to becoming one of Britain’s best-known comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood actor briefly married to singer Katy Perry. Brand was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan in 2009, after meeting her following one of his stand-up shows at the Hammersmith Apollo.
The woman told jurors she was a huge Brand fan and had willingly engaged in a threesome with him backstage despite having a boyfriend at the time. She agreed to go to Brand’s Hampstead home for sex a few days later, but a consensual encounter turned into rape when the comedian suddenly forced the woman into anal sex.
Another woman told the court how her breasts were groped by Brand in the Nordic bar in Soho, just seconds after she had been introduced to him at a 2004 party. She recalled Brand’s “weird” grin as he carried out the sexual assault. In 2005, Brand kissed and groped a third woman during a visit to the Capital Radio studios in London, pouncing on her as she walked out of a room.
Brand was also convicted of putting his head into the groin of a female Channel 4 worker, after she had been forced to give him a massage in 2009. Brand denied all the charges and claimed to have only ever had consensual sex during a “promiscuous” life, which he insisted had been packed with “idiocy” but never illegal.
