Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault in London

A London jury convicted comedian and actor Russell Brand on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. The jury of eight men and four women acquitted him of two rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The verdict and sentencing

Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand faces a "significant" prison term and remanded him in custody after rejecting a bail request to let him see his children, citing concerns he might flee. Sentencing is set for Monday.

Brand, 51, was convicted of:

• sexually assaulting a woman at a party in London's Soho district in the summer of 2004
• kissing and groping a woman at a London radio station in 2004 or 2005
• raping a woman at his home in Hampstead, north London, between winter and spring of 2009, after she met him at one of his shows
• sexually assaulting a woman in 2009 while she was working on a project for Channel 4

Police and prosecution statements

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of London's Metropolitan Police said the conviction was "a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them."

"Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women," Furphy said. "As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement."

David Roberts of the Crown Prosecution Service said outside court that the evidence showed Brand "to be a calculated sexual predator, using his growing fame and power to create situations in which he could pursue women sexually, regardless of what they wanted."

The Met Police confirmed investigations are continuing regarding two further allegations of rape made against Brand. Prosecutors are assessing whether to bring additional charges.

Background

The charges concerned six women and offenses dating from 1999 to 2009. The women who brought complaints have lifelong anonymity under U.K. law and cannot be publicly identified.

Brand denied the charges and testified that the encounters were consensual. He acknowledged using his fame to facilitate sexual access, which he said was wrong. His wife, Laura Gallacher, testified as a character witness, describing him as a caring father.

The accusations gained wider attention after a 2023 joint investigation by The Times and Channel 4 aired accusations from women who said they had been sexually abused and degraded by Brand.

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Sources

• abc7ny.com: Russell Brand's convictions for rape, sexual assault renew spotlight on media — and a culture — that may have looked away | abc7ny.com
• apnews.com: London jury convicts Russell Brand of rape and sexual assault | AP News
• nbcnews.com: Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault
• courthousenews.com: Russell Brand convicted of rape, sexual assault in UK | Courthouse News Service
• latimes.com: Russell Brand verdict: British actor convicted of rape, sexual assault - Los Angeles Times
• cnn.com: Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault | CNN

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