Detectives are assessing fresh information as part of an ongoing investigation into Russell Brand after several people came forward with new abuse allegations during and since the conclusion of his trial.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Tuesday that multiple individuals had contacted the investigation team to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation. A spokesperson said: "Several people have contacted the investigation team during and since the trial to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation. Detectives are assessing this information as part of their ongoing enquiries."
Prosecutors are already considering charging Brand over two further alleged rapes, including one involving a 16-year-old girl.
Brand jailed for rape and sexual assaults
The 51-year-old was convicted last week of one rape and three sexual assaults and has spent five nights in custody. On Monday, he was handed a 10-and-a-half year sentence at Southwark Crown Court, showing no emotion as the sentence was passed but telling his wife, Laura Gallacher, "we'll be OK".
Since his sentencing, Brand has been accused of further violence by his former partner Jemima Goldsmith, who said she had to call the police to have him removed from her house during a "violent incident". Ms Goldsmith, who 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 for 12 years.
Powell urges women to come forward
Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell urged women to "come forward" on Tuesday, saying they will be believed. Speaking on Sky News, Ms Powell said: "What I would say to women now, off the back of that, is do come forward when these things happen to you. You will be supported. You will be believed. You will be taken seriously."
She added: "Because actually, had we had an environment and a culture, 15 years ago, 20 years ago, where women felt that, then he would have been stopped in his tracks sooner and we would have had less victims as a consequence."
The Education Secretary also expressed "regret" at Ed Miliband's 2015 general election interview with Brand, saying it took place in a "different era" before the comedian's predatory sexual behaviour had been exposed. Mr Miliband, then Labour leader, appeared on Brand's online show The Trews during his bid to become prime minister.
Judge calls Brand a 'sexual predator'
In his submissions at Monday's hearing, defence barrister Ian Winter KC argued Brand's crimes were the consequence of his fame, saying the final offence "happened very shortly after" Brand had met his former wife, singer Katy Perry.
Four victim impact statements were delivered to the court, including one describing Brand as "a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life". Another 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".
Sentencing Brand, Mr Justice Bennathan criticised the comedian's "staggering arrogance" and said he had "become a sexual predator" during his rise to fame. 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.
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.
