British actor Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault
A London jury returned guilty verdicts on four counts against the 51-year-old, who is scheduled for sentencing next week.
By Luis Medina ·
The legal case against a high-profile British entertainer concluded with a conviction for serious sexual offenses. A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London found Russell Brand guilty on Thursday. The verdict included one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Brand, 51, was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. He had maintained that the encounters were consensual or that the stories were fabricated. Prosecutors argued that he used his fame to exploit women. They described him as a ruthless predator during the trial.
The charges cover incidents that occurred between 1999 and 2009. This period spans Brand's rise from performing stand-up comedy in small venues to becoming a television presenter and film star. Six women provided testimony in the courtroom. All complainants have been granted lifelong anonymity. None of the women knew each other before the trial.
The group reported to police after anonymous allegations surfaced in a 2023 television documentary and press reports. The evidence for the rape conviction involved an incident in 2009. A victim stated she met Brand after a gig and later went to his home. She told the court that he anally raped her during what she described as consensual sex. She said he instructed her to clean up the blood and mess afterward.
The jury also found Brand guilty of an assault at a London bar in 2004. A witness testified that he approached her at a party and grabbed her breasts. In another 2009 incident, a woman working on a promotional project with Brand said he demanded a massage. The court heard that he then placed his head between her legs while two colleagues watched. A fourth conviction involved a radio station employee in 2004 or 2005. She described the assault occurring in front of his entourage.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police commented on the outcome. He stated that the conviction reflects the courage of the women who reported the incidents. Furphy noted that Brand used his status to sexually offend. He added that Brand's sense of entitlement grew as his profile increased.
Judge Joel Bennathan announced that Brand will be sentenced on Monday. The judge indicated that a lengthy prison term is possible. Brand was taken into custody immediately following the verdict.
