Laura Gallacher has made clear that she intends to remain at Russell Brand’s side and does not plan to leave him after he was sentenced to more than ten years in prison for rape and sexual assault.
The mother of Brand’s three children is said to be experiencing “total devastation” following his conviction for four sexual offences.
Gallacher, who is the sister of television presenter Kirsty Gallacher and the daughter of Ryder Cup-winning golfer Bernard Gallacher, is reportedly struggling to process the verdict while considering how to explain Brand’s crimes to their children.
She appeared close to breaking down at Southwark Crown Court yesterday, crumpling in her seat as the sentence was announced. During the hearing, she was also seen shaking her head while Brand’s victims described the lasting effects of the attacks.
Gallacher later bent forward in apparent disbelief before regaining her composure and mouthing “I love you” to Brand. He gestured towards her as he was taken to the cells, and she placed her hand against the glass dock before quietly repeating the words.
Her loyalty to Brand, described by some people close to her family as resembling “brainwashing”, was highlighted by his legal team during arguments for a shorter sentence.
Ian Winter KC told the judge that Brand’s wife continued to stand by him.
He said: “Words are completely inadequate to convey the total devastation she is experiencing.
“They are wrestling with how to explain to a child who has just turned ten what has happened here, and the consequences of this conduct for entirely innocent people who have been caught up in it.”
Laura Gallacher mouthed “I love you” to Brand after he waved to her while being taken to the cells, following evidence that she remained loyal to him
The mother of three folded forward after hearing that Brand had been sentenced to more than ten years in prison
Gallacher was guided through the crowds and into a waiting Mercedes after Brand was jailed
Holding hands with a friend, she appeared emotional as she left court on Monday
Brand appeared with his wife at Southwark Crown Court last Thursday, only hours before the guilty verdicts were delivered
Soon afterwards, Gallacher left the court with her eyes concealed behind sunglasses, avoiding difficult questions about her decision to support the convicted sex offender.
When Brand was taken away from Southwark Crown Court in a prison van, members of the public struck the vehicle’s windows. One man shouted: “Not so funny now, Russell, are you?”
The comedian is also facing further police inquiries following additional allegations of abuse.
Police have received “multiple reports” of sexual abuse since the 51-year-old actor and comedian was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.
Former girlfriend Jemima Goldsmith, 52, became the latest woman to speak out last night. She accused Brand of “violence, coercive control and abuse”, claiming she was so frightened after an alleged violent incident in 2014 that she called police to have him removed from her £15million Cotswolds home.
Brand showed no visible emotion during sentencing as the judge said he had used his celebrity status to prey on women, believing that “fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live”.
Sitting in the dock, Brand appeared to blink in disbelief as he was told he would serve at least seven years of a ten-and-a-half-year sentence for attacks against four women between 2004 and 2009.
He could now face a second trial while police examine a series of new allegations. Prosecutors are expected to decide within weeks whether to bring charges over two additional alleged rapes, including one involving a 16-year-old.
Mr Justice Bennathan said the defendant had displayed a “casual arrogant disregard to any woman’s right to say no to you”. Addressing him, he said: “About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes you were funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.”
The judge condemned what he called Brand’s “staggering arrogance” and his apparent belief that his public standing would protect him. He also criticised Brand for attacking journalists who helped expose the allegations in 2023, as well as members of his entourage who allegedly witnessed abusive behaviour but laughed or failed to intervene.
He praised the victims for their “determination and bravery”, saying: “All those women had to face being confronted and being told they had lied, or twisted the truth and, or, they had agreed to your sexual demands: that was all done because of you, on your instructions.”
Mr Justice Bennathan also rejected rape myths raised during the defence case, after Brand’s barrister faced criticism for referring to stereotypes about victims who did not scream, kick or slap their attacker.
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The judge said: “Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent.”
Legal sources told the Daily Mail that Brand’s barrister, Mr Winter, was paid approximately £1million for the defence. The fraud specialist was reportedly brought in after several leading female barristers declined to represent Brand.
However, the decision created further controversy when Mr Winter launched an expletive-filled attack on the journalist whose investigation exposed the allegations. Following the verdict, he told her that she had “f*****” justice, prompting a probe by the Bar Standards Board.
A courtroom sketch shows Brand in front, with his wife to the left, his father Ron to the right and his bodyguard behind him during sentencing
Brand’s father told reporters that his son was the true victim of the trial
Two Brand supporters wept outside court after he was sentenced for four sexual offences
The supporters were carrying this banner
Brand’s crucifix was visible through the prison van window as he was driven away
Andy Burnham has pledged to review the law, promising to be “relentless in making whatever improvements” are needed to strengthen support for victims. During sentencing, Mr Winter argued that Brand had been unfairly depicted as a “monster” and should instead be viewed as a man who experienced a “short, momentary total failure” to respect consent.
Despite Brand’s rape conviction, Mr Winter drew gasps from some people in court when he said his client should be sentenced “not in the way that he has been portrayed over the last four days [as someone] who is, in general terms, a rapist”.
Hello, I’m Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk.
Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and three sexual assaults, while our reporters Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull attended every day of the trial. They spoke with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, who explained why the women featured in the widely reported documentary were not part of Brand’s rape trial.
Brand is expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence before being released on licence.
He is likely to seek legal advice about an appeal, although legal sources say the jury’s mixed verdicts could make it harder to persuade appeal judges that the trial was unfair.
The jury convicted Brand of rape and three sexual assaults, while acquitting him of two other rape allegations and an attempted indecent assault.
One source said: “In a way it would have been easier for Winter if there had been a clean sweep of guilty verdicts. He could at least have argued that Brand had not received a fair trial because of the Channel 4 Dispatches and Sunday Times investigation.
“The mixed verdicts indicate that the jury assessed each allegation on the evidence, regardless of the media coverage, which makes an appeal extremely difficult.”
After the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy urged anyone who may have been victimised by Brand to contact police.
He said: “I want to make a direct appeal to anyone who has been a victim of rape or any other sexual offence.
“We know it can take enormous courage to speak about what has happened to you, regardless of how long ago it took place or who was responsible.
“If you come forward, you will be listened to, supported and treated with care and compassion.”
Jemima Goldsmith, pictured with Brand in 2013, has accused him of “violence, coercive control and abuse” after reports emerged that she and the disgraced comedian had gagged a massage therapist for more than a decade
How did Russell Brand become a predator, and what happens next? The Crime Desk examines the case with police officers, psychologists, lawyers and other experts. Sign up here.
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