Russell Brand Gets 10.5 Years for Rape and Assault
The comedian and presenter was sentenced after a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, where the judge cited his arrogance and the conduct of his entourage.
By Alina Marshall ·
Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison following a guilty verdict on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He will serve approximately seven years before being released on licence. The sentencing took place at Southwark Crown Court after a four-week trial that concluded with the jury finding him guilty on four counts while acquitting him on two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Justice Bennathan detailed the crimes extensively during the sentencing, reading out witness impact statements from the three victims who spoke from behind a curtain. The judge described Brand as operating with staggering arrogance and noted that his entourage often indulged his dreadful behavior. Bennathan stated that women retain the right to say no regardless of what they wear or where they go. He addressed Brand directly, calling him a sexual predator who acted without consent.
The specific incidents included a 2009 rape that followed a meeting at a Hammersmith Apollo gig. The victim told police that after consensual vaginal sex, Brand anally raped her while she was on her front. She recalled feeling unable to speak or breathe and asked him to stop several times. Brand told her to clear up the mess she made after the act. The other convictions involve a 2004 incident at a Soho bar where he grabbed a victim's breasts, a 2004 or 2005 incident at Capital Radio where he pushed a victim against a wall and grabbed her body, and a 2009 incident where he put his head and nose into a female colleague's vaginal area.
Victims granted lifelong anonymity expressed the long-term effects of the crimes. One woman said she had been in shock and turmoil for weeks and felt like damaged goods. She described feeling physically sick when seeing Brand in the media and stated that a leopard may change its spots but it is still a leopard. Another victim told the court on Monday that Brand is a sexual predator with no remorse and expressed hope that he would not be allowed to hurt more women.
Brand remained silent as the sentence was read and mouthed I love you to his wife, Laura, as he was led away. His defense team argued that he is a fundamentally different person today. Lawyer Ian Winter said the couple is wrestling with how to explain the situation to their 10-year-old child. Winter also noted that Laura Brand is experiencing total devastation from the convictions. Journalists in the court observed Laura shaking her head during the witness statements.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Brand is under investigation for further rape allegations from women not connected to this trial. The case has raised questions about how long Brand went unreported by the British public. The next step in the process involves Brand beginning his prison term, with the possibility of release on licence after seven years.
The trial captured national attention, leaving the industry and the public with questions about the timeline of the allegations. The jury's decision to acquit on two counts highlights the specific nature of the evidence presented. Brand's legal team did not immediately indicate whether they would appeal the sentence.
