Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assaults, sentencing set for Monday

A London jury on Thursday found British comedian Russell Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women between 2005 and 2009. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Brand, 51, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday, with the maximum penalty for rape in the UK being life imprisonment.

The verdict was delivered at Southwark Crown Court, where Brand’s wife Laura observed from the public gallery. After the jury’s decision, Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said the conviction demonstrates that “no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.”

Senior prosecutor David Roberts described Brand as having used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes, adding that he was “a manipulator with an insatiable desire to get what he wanted regardless of whether consent was given or not.”

Brand’s defence lawyer Ian Winter asked the judge to grant bail over the weekend to allow Brand to arrange his affairs and say goodbye to his three children. Judge Joel Bennathan declined, noting Brand’s “considerable resources” and expressing concern that he might not appear for sentencing.

From the dock, Brand told his legal team, “I’m good, I’m good, I’m good,” before being led out of the courtroom.