Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault in London

Russell Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. The jury cleared him of two further rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Brand is being held in custody ahead of sentencing on Monday, and Mr Justice Bennathan told him to expect a "significant custodial term".

Barrister self-reports to regulator

Ian Winter KC, Brand's defence barrister, has referred himself to the Bar Standards Board after reports that he confronted Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin outside court following the verdicts. Urwin said she introduced herself to Winter after the verdicts were delivered and claimed he responded with a "snarl" and said "I hope you're pleased with yourself". She said Winter replied "it wasn't" and suggested she was to blame using a profanity. Legal Cheek reports Winter told her: "Well, it wasn't. You f***ed it", before adding: "Congratulations."

In a statement, Winter said: "Having seen the ways matters have been characterised in today's press I consider my professional duty requires me to self-report those allegations to the Bar Standards Board, so the matter can be subject to proper scrutiny. I have made such a report." The Bar Standards Board regulates barristers in England and Wales in the public interest.

Background to the case

Four women variously accused Brand of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse in a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and the Times and Sunday Times in September 2023. Brand denied the allegations. None of the women who featured in the media investigation were the complainants from Brand's criminal trial. Brand is also being investigated over two more rape allegations made by two other women. Court documents from a hearing at Southwark Crown Court suggest one of the women was 16 at the time of the alleged offence and appeared in a Channel 4 documentary. Brand has denied those allegations.

Why it matters

The conviction concludes a criminal trial stemming from allegations that surfaced after a 2023 media investigation. The self-reporting of Brand's barrister to the regulator adds a separate professional conduct matter following the verdict.

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Sources

• bbc.com: Brand's barrister refers himself to regulator after report he confronted journalist
• legalcheek.com: Russell Brand barrister reports himself to regulator following clash with journalist  - Legal Cheek

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.