Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault in London court
British actor-comedian Russell Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women, with sentencing scheduled for Monday.
A Southwark Crown Court jury convicted Russell Brand on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault relating to four women, after more than eight hours of deliberation over two days. The 51-year-old was taken into custody and will be sentenced on Monday, according to Judge Joel Bennathan.
Brand denied the allegations, acknowledging a past obsession with sex but insisting he never forced anyone against their will. He testified that the criminal case had severely affected his personal life and relationships. > "My entire life has been consumed by these events, these allegations, these accusations," he said.
The prosecution presented evidence spanning more than two decades, while Brand’s defense argued that the alleged victims delayed reporting and that a 2023 documentary had influenced public perception. His wife, Laura, attended the trial and testified as a character witness, though Brand said no witnesses offered substantive evidence in his favor.
The verdict follows Brand’s shift away from mainstream media; after a career in television, radio and film, he relocated to Florida and built an online presence focused on wellness, conspiracy theories and religious topics.