Russell Brand convicted of rape and three sexual assaults in UK trial
British comedian and actor Russell Brand faces a prison sentence after a jury at Southwark Crown Court found him guilty of four sexual offences involving four women.
The 51-year-old was convicted on Thursday, November 5, of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial in London. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Judge Joel Bennathan denied Brand bail after the verdicts, saying the convictions meant he would face a significant custodial term. He is due to be sentenced on Monday, November 9.
The convictions relate to incidents between 2004 and 2009. They include the rape of a woman Brand met after a performance at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009, as well as sexual assaults involving women who worked at MTV, Capital Radio and Channel 4.
Brand had denied all seven charges, maintaining that his sexual encounters were consensual. During the trial, prosecutors argued that he had used his public profile and influence to exploit women.
The case involved six women and allegations dating from 1999 to 2009. The jury cleared Brand of a rape allegation linked to an encounter during the 1999 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, as well as another rape charge and the attempted indecent assault allegation.
The allegations became public in September 2023 following a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and investigations by The Times and The Sunday Times. The reports prompted a Metropolitan Police investigation, which eventually led to the charges.
In a statement following the verdict, the Metropolitan Police said detectives had interviewed more than 100 witnesses, taken over 400 witness statements and examined more than 1,400 documents during the investigation.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy praised the women who came forward, describing their determination as central to the outcome of the case. He also urged anyone who may have experienced similar offences to contact the police.
Brand’s conviction marks a major development in a case that brought renewed scrutiny to allegations of sexual misconduct first reported three years ago. The remaining stage of the proceedings will be his sentencing hearing on November 9.
Separately, the Metropolitan Police are investigating further allegations made by two other women. No charges have been announced in connection with those reports.
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