The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that several people have come forward with further criminal allegations against Russell Brand since the beginning of his trial. The force said individuals have been in contact during and after the conclusion of the 51-year-old's rape and sexual assault case, either providing additional information or reporting potential criminal allegations. Detectives are assessing this information as part of ongoing inquiries.
Background to the Conviction
Brand has spent five nights in custody since being convicted of one rape and three sexual assaults. On Monday, he was handed a 10-and-a-half-year jail term at Southwark Crown Court. The comedian showed no emotion as the sentence was delivered but told his wife, Laura Gallacher, "we'll be OK" before being taken downstairs by dock officers.
Since the sentencing, Brand has faced further accusations from his former partner Jemima Goldsmith. She shared a post on X hours after the hearing claiming she had to call the police to have him removed from her house during a "violent incident". Ms Goldsmith, who reportedly dated Brand for a year in 2014, wrote that she has her own experience of his "violence, coercive control and abuse" and has neither seen nor spoken to him since that period.
Court Proceedings and Victim Statements
Brand was convicted on Thursday of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three TV and radio workers during his rise to international fame. In submissions at Monday's hearing, defence barrister Ian Winter KC argued Brand's crimes were a consequence of the level of fame he was acquiring. Mr Winter said the final offence "happened very shortly after" Brand met his former wife, singer Katy Perry.
Four powerful victim impact statements were delivered to the court. One victim described Brand as "a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life", adding that his fame had left her afraid to speak out for years. She told the court: "His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless." Another victim said she feared the sexual assault will "haunt me every day" and that reporting the incident "felt like a marathon I had not trained for".
Political Response and Sentencing
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be "relentless in making whatever improvements we can" to provide more support for victims, including ensuring there are rape and serious sexual offence teams in every police force. It is understood Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will summon media and entertainment bosses in the coming days to tell them the case must be a "line in the sand", with a Government source telling The Times that Ms Nandy believes "responsibility has to lie with the people at the top".
Sentencing Brand, Mr Justice Bennathan criticised the comedian's "staggering arrogance" and said he had "become a sexual predator" during his rise to fame. The judge said Brand harboured a "casual arrogant disregard to any woman's right to say no to you" while his fame meant he believed "you could act when you liked and how you liked". Brand is expected to serve two-thirds of his prison sentence before being released on licence and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.
