Russell Brand is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday at London’s Southwark Crown Court, where he faces a "significant" prison term following his conviction for rape and sexual assault. The 51-year-old British comedian and actor was found guilty on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, while being acquitted of two additional rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.
During the verdict hearing on November 5, Judge Joel Bennathan stated, "You've been convicted of a number of offenses including rape. The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term." The sentencing is expected to take place at approximately 9 a.m. ET. Brand, who rose to fame in the 2000s as a broadcaster and later starred in films such as Get Him to the Greek and Arthur, has denied the charges, maintaining that he has never forced anyone to do anything against their will.
The trial heard testimony from six women who alleged that Brand’s offenses spanned from 1999 to 2009. None of the accusers knew one another, but they came forward to police in 2023 following a television documentary and press reports featuring anonymous allegations. The convictions include a 2009 rape in which a victim stated that Brand removed a condom during what had initially been consensual sex, and a 2004 incident at a London bar where he was found guilty of grabbing a woman’s breasts.
Additional guilty verdicts included a 2009 incident where Brand demanded a massage from a woman in front of colleagues and placed his head in her groin, and another case involving a radio station employee whom he pushed against a wall and forcibly kissed. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones described Brand as a "ruthless, calculating, manipulative sexual predator" who treated women as a "disposable commodity." All six accusers are entitled to lifelong anonymity.
"As I've repeatedly stated publicly and written about extensively, I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I've spent years openly denouncing," Brand said in police interview footage released after the verdict. "I've never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity."
Brand, who married singer Katy Perry in 2010 and divorced in 2012, told police in December 2023 that he did not recall the names of the complainants and suggested any contact may have been consensual and "since reimagined." Following the verdict, the Metropolitan Police Service announced that Brand is facing further allegations of rape from two other women, though he has not been charged in relation to these specific claims.
Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley urged other potential victims to come forward, stating, "There's two more rape allegations that we're looking at. We're encouraging anybody else to come forward if there's any other allegations." Rowley added that he "wouldn't be surprised if many, many more come forward," emphasizing that the trial demonstrates that "powerful people can be brought down so you are safe stepping forward and we will support and try and bring that person to justice."
<small>Source: Yahoo News — read the original story there.</small>
