Russell Brand’s rape conviction could become a “tipping point” that encourages more victims to report sexual assault allegations involving other high-profile figures, Britain’s most senior police officer has said.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the former comedian’s conviction prompted victims to come forward with historic allegations against celebrities.
He also warned that “many, many more” people could contact police with claims of further offences allegedly committed by Brand.
Sir Mark spoke after Brand, 51, spent his first night in solitary confinement at Wandsworth Prison. The former comedian was found guilty on Thursday of sexually attacking four women during the peak of his fame.
He was convicted of raping a 21-year-old woman at his home in 2009 and is due to be sentenced on Monday.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Sir Mark compared the case with the posthumous exposure of Jimmy Savile as a prolific sex offender, which prompted other victims to speak out and contributed to the convictions of further high-profile offenders.
“When the Jimmy Savile case broke… we saw, all of a sudden, allegations coming forward that led to the conviction of, say, [broadcaster] Rolf Harris and [publicist] Max Clifford,” the Met chief said.
He praised those who came forward to report “the most atrocious, ghastly experience”, despite the celebrity status and perceived influence of the people they accused.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said many more celebrity assault victims could come forward
Sir Mark said the jury’s decision to convict Brand despite his fame should reassure other victims that their accounts can be heard and believed. He urged anyone with allegations to consider contacting police.
“It’s an awful thing to step forward and report, particularly when you see the person who abused you as powerful. If you’ve seen somebody else powerful taken down, that may be the tipping point,” he said.
“You might think, ‘Actually, no, I do want to talk about this. I’m prepared to talk to the police, I’m prepared to go to court about it.’ So I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more.”
Detectives are now investigating two additional rape allegations against Brand, including one involving a girl who was 16 at the time of the alleged attack.
Police have already submitted evidence files as they consider whether further charges should be brought.
“We’ve got two other victims who’ve come forward who want to tell their story, and so two rape cases we’re investigating. I wouldn’t be surprised if many, many more come forward,” Sir Mark told LBC radio.
The Met commissioner also criticised Brand’s legal team for advancing what he described as rape myths during the trial, amid claims that the defence amounted to victim-blaming.
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The arguments included suggestions that the women could not have been telling the truth because they did not scream or try to escape during the alleged attacks. The defence also questioned why they had not reported the incidents to police at the time.
Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman said she was seeking changes to the law so juries would be formally warned against such arguments. She also criticised Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC.
Sir Mark said he shared Ms Waxman’s concerns and was left “angry” by parts of the defence case he heard in court.
He told the Daily Mail: “Victims go through such trauma, and to misrepresent how victims react to a jury, it shocked me that that happened. The evidence is really clear – people react very differently to these traumatic situations.
“Some people will freeze, some people will fight. After the event, some people will speak straight away, other people will bottle it up for ages. People react differently. And we shouldn’t allow juries to be misled.”
Brand’s defence also argued that journalists and police had effectively encouraged people to make allegations after investigations by the Sunday Times and a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary identified him as a sexual predator in 2023.
Russell Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault by a jury on Thursday
Brand left Southwark Crown Court in a prison van as onlookers attempted to photograph through its windows
During a pre-trial hearing, Brand, through Mr Winter, described the journalists who first reported the allegations as “criminals” and argued that their work had made a fair trial impossible. Sir Mark said he was not concerned by Brand’s claims.
On Friday, Mr Winter referred himself to the Bar Standards Board after directing a foul-mouthed outburst at Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin, who worked on the 2023 investigation.
He was overheard saying: “I hope you are pleased with yourself. You f***** it. Congratulations.”
Mr Winter later said he wanted the exchange to undergo “proper scrutiny” following “the ways matters have been characterised in today’s Press”.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham said he had “no idea” about Brand’s alleged wrongdoing when he supported him in 2014 over a tabloid newspaper report concerning the presenter’s housing arrangements.
The Prime Minister has also said he will examine how rape trials are conducted, amid concerns that complainants can be left feeling as though they are the ones “on trial”.
Mr Burnham did not say whether this would require a change in the law, but told Times Radio: “We need to encourage more women to come forward to report rape. I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
Brand was acquitted of two rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.