Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years for rape and sexual assault

British comedian Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after a London jury found him guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault. Judge Bennathan imposed nine years for the rape conviction and additional concurrent terms of nine months, 18 months and eight months for the sexual-assault counts. Under the ruling, Brand must serve two-thirds of the sentence before eligibility for release on licence.

The court heard testimony from several victims about the lasting impact of the assaults, which occurred between 2004 and 2009 at locations including a radio station, a Soho bar and a Channel 4 shoot. One victim described fear of HIV infection after the rape, and the judge cited the removal of a condom as an aggravating factor.

Brand did not react publicly in court; his wife Laura Gallacher and his father Ronald were present. After sentencing, Brand was taken into custody and, according to Sky News, mouthed brief remarks to his lawyers.

The Metropolitan Police indicated that investigations into additional alleged rapes are ongoing. The allegations first became public in 2023 through a documentary series and a Channel 4 investigation.