Russell Brand jailed for rape and sexual assault
The British comedian faces a prison sentence Monday after a Southwark jury convicted him on four counts.
By Daphne Turner ·
Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London found the 51-year-old actor guilty on Thursday. He was acquitted of two rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. Judge Joel Bennathan stated Brand will receive a substantial prison term when he is sentenced Monday.
The court rejected a bail request that would have allowed Brand to see his children. Bennathan cited the risk of flight as the primary reason for keeping the comedian in custody. He told the court he regretted the hardship placed on the children but noted that the difficulty resulted from the father's criminal actions.
Brand was taken into custody immediately following the verdict. He showed little emotion while the guilty verdict on the rape count was read. After the judge denied bail, Brand gestured to his legal team and repeatedly told them he was okay. He told his lawyers, "I'm good, I'm good, I'm good," before officers escorted him out of the courtroom.
The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for more than eight hours across two days. The convictions cover incidents that took place between 1999 and 2009. The jury found Brand guilty of raping a fan at his home in 2009 and sexually assaulting a woman during a 2004 birthday party in London. They also found him guilty of kissing and groping a woman at a radio station and sexually assaulting a woman during a 2009 commercial shoot.
Police have provided prosecutors with their investigation into two additional rape allegations. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police said the conviction demonstrated the resilience of the women who reported the assaults. He noted that Brand used his fame to exploit women and that his sense of entitlement grew as his profile expanded.
Brand has lived in Florida in recent years and built an online following through wellness and religious content. The case followed a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4 that prompted multiple women to come forward. Brand denied the charges, testifying that he had never forced anyone to do anything against their will. He described the legal process as a devastating impact on his life and family.
