Russell Brand sentenced to 10½ years for rape and sexual assault

A Southwark Crown Court jury found British comedian Russell Brand guilty of raping a woman in 2009 and of three counts of sexual assault, leading to a sentence of ten and a half years in prison. The convictions relate to offences committed between 2004 and 2009, and Brand was acquitted of three other charges. The judge noted that Brand could be considered for release after roughly seven years, subject to conditions.

"The consequences of what happened have affected almost every aspect of my life. Even now, I continue to experience anxiety, difficulties with trust, reduced confidence and the lasting effects of trauma," the victim said at sentencing.

The judge described Brand as a "sexual predator". During the trial, Brand acknowledged past wrongdoing but denied having forced himself on anyone. The case also highlighted Brand's recent public activities, including his involvement with the Make America Healthy Again movement and his conversion to Christianity, which culminated in a baptism on the Thames in 2024.