Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been sentenced to more than a decade in a British prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assaults.
LONDON, UK — Russell Brand was sentenced Monday to 10 1/2 years in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.
During sentencing, Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand had shown a “casual and arrogant disregard” for women who told him no. His remarks placed the offenses against the backdrop of Brand’s rise to fame.
“About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous,” Bennathan said. “You were clever — and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.”
The 51-year-old actor and comedian became known for provocative stand-up routines and outrageous behavior on television and radio. He had also spoken publicly about struggles with drugs and alcohol. Throughout the case, Brand maintained that he was innocent and that all of his sexual encounters had been consensual.
However, a jury comprising eight men and four women convicted him of attacking four of six women in cases dating to 2004. He was acquitted of two rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Brand supported by wife, father and fans outside court
Brand appeared in court wearing a gray suit, an open-collar shirt and a loosely tied white necktie. His long, graying hair was pulled into a bun, and he held a crucifix tightly in his right hand.
Defense attorney Ian Winter asked the judge to take Brand’s good character into account. He said Brand had only one conviction, for marijuana possession in 1995, and had carried out charitable work while helping others overcome drug and alcohol addiction.
Brand’s wife, Laura, and his father, Ron Brand, supported him at Southwark Crown Court. Laura entered the courthouse separately. Brand had remained free during the trial but was taken into custody after Thursday’s guilty verdict.
Two supporters whose banners reflected Brand’s recent conversion to Christianity held a sign decorated with crosses that read: “Russell Brand we stand with you. Christ was crucified for telling the truth. Russell is the truth.”
Victims tell court it was difficult to see Brand celebrated in public
The women came forward after a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4 aired accounts from people who said Brand had sexually abused and degraded them.
One woman whom Brand was convicted of abusing addressed the court about the lasting effects of the crime. The prosecutor read statements from the other victims.
One woman, whom Brand was convicted of sexually assaulting at a birthday party in a London bar in 2004, said the attack left her shocked and distressed and made her feel like “damaged goods.”
“For many years as his star was rising it was impossible to escape seeing him all over the media, being celebrated for his disgusting behavior against women like it was all a joke,” she said. “There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he can get away with anything.”
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Brand stared ahead as the woman spoke from behind a curtain, out of public view to protect her identity.
Rape victim felt ‘powerless’
A former fan whom Brand was convicted of anally raping at his home after meeting her backstage at one of his comedy shows in 2009 said the assault left her anxious and humiliated. She struggled to eat and sleep and went through periods of heavy drinking.
She said she waited years before speaking out and came forward only after police launched an investigation following the documentary.
“I felt that if I reported him, I would not be believed,” she said in a statement read by Karmy-Jones. “His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless.”
Winter sought to downplay the seriousness of the rape conviction, arguing that Brand should be “regarded as a man who went too far and overrode consent that had been given” after consensual sex.
Another woman, whom Brand was convicted of kissing and groping at a London radio station in 2004 or 2005, said the assault continued to affect her life.
“Since the sexual assault … Russell Brand has managed to move on and even forget,” she said. “Over the years, hearing his voice on television, on social media or seeing his image made me jump.”
‘Culture at the time’ silenced woman
Brand’s fourth conviction involved the sexual assault of a woman who said the comedian demanded a massage and pushed his face into her groin while an advertisement was being recorded in 2009.
“Immediately after the incident I spoke up, and sadly it was brushed under the carpet by senior management,” she said. “There was a culture at the time which meant I felt I had to just carry on and not talk about it anymore, which meant I did not give myself time to lament on it, boxed it up and pushed it aside.”
Brand was acquitted of raping another woman in a hotel room during the Labour Party’s annual conference in Bournemouth, a seaside town, in 1999. He was also cleared of attempting to indecently assault a woman by pulling her into the men’s bathroom at the London offices of music channel MTV.
The Associated Press does not identify victims of alleged sexual violence. British law also protects their identities from the media for life.
Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s through provocative stand-up performances, television appearances and his BBC radio show. He acted in Hollywood films including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek” and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry. His career also included highly publicized struggles with drugs and alcohol.
In recent years, Brand moved away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and developed a large online following. His videos have combined wellness advice, conspiracy theories and discussions of his religious faith.