British comedian Russell Brand sentenced to ten years and six months for rape and sexual assault

A Southwark Crown Court judge handed down a ten-year, six-month prison term to British comedian Russell Brand after a jury convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The verdict stemmed from allegations by six women who testified over a four-week trial.

Brand, 51, was found guilty of raping a woman he met at a show in 2009 and of sexually assaulting three other women at a bar, a radio station and a TV studio between 2004 and 2009. He has denied all charges and maintains that any sexual activity was consensual.

Before sentencing, four of the complainants delivered victim impact statements, describing lasting emotional harm and fear of not being believed because of Brand’s public profile. The statements were read by the prosecution, with one woman speaking from behind a curtain.

During the hearing, Brand was observed holding a rosary. His wife, Laura, and his father were present in the courtroom. The prosecution argued for a lengthy sentence, citing aggravating factors, while the defence described Brand as a fundamentally different person from the one involved in the offenses.

Judge Justice Bennathan described Brand as a "sexual predator" and praised the courage of the women who came forward before ordering the sentence to be carried out.