Russell Brand Convicted of Rape and Sexual Assault in London Court

A London jury convicted actor and comedian Russell Brand on Thursday of rape and sexual assault charges, ending a three-week trial that examined allegations spanning from 1999 to 2009.

Brand, 51, was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women, while being acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The verdict follows more than eight hours of deliberation by a jury of eight men and four women at Southwark Crown Court, where the defendant had faced seven total charges.

The case represents a major legal turning point for the former broadcaster and Hollywood actor, who had built a large online following in recent years after moving away from mainstream media.

“Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women,” said Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of London’s Metropolitan Police. “As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement.”

During the trial, prosecutors described Brand as a “sexual predator” who leveraged his celebrity to manipulate women in locations including a radio station, a bar and his home.

Brand maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, testifying that while he had been promiscuous as a younger man, his sexual encounters were always consensual.

His defense team argued that the complainants’ accounts were influenced by a 2023 documentary that featured anonymous allegations against the comedian, which they claimed had contaminated the judicial process.

“It is not criminal to treat women unkindly before, during or after sex,” said Ian Winter, a lawyer for Brand, during his closing statement. “It is not, I am afraid, criminal to be disrespectful or rude or to act like a crazy idiot.”

Following the verdict, Judge Joel Bennathan denied a request for bail, citing the risk of flight, and ordered Brand into custody ahead of his sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday.

“I regret the hardship caused to the children, of course,” said Judge Bennathan. “But the hardship has been caused by serious criminal offending by their father.”

Brand is expected to receive a significant prison term when he returns to court for sentencing next week.