Russell Brand Convicted of Rape and Three Sexual Assaults in London

By Daniel Okafor

Russell Brand was convicted Thursday on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at his London criminal trial. The jury acquitted him of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The verdicts ended a three-week trial and a third day of jury deliberations. Brand, once a fixture of British comedy and Hollywood studio comedies, did not visibly react as the counts were read.

Mr Justice Bennathan left little ambiguity about what comes next. "Obviously a custodial sentence of some length will result," he told the court. He said it was unlikely he would extend bail.

What did the judge say about custody?

The judge explained his reasoning in blunt terms. "You've been convicted of a number of offenses, including one of rape," he said. "My current view is that I therefore have to remand you in custody not least because the temptation to avoid coming back to court to receive that sentence will be overwhelming."

He granted both legal teams and the Crown Prosecution Service a 20-minute break to argue the bail question. He then denied the extension and remanded Brand into custody until Monday, when he returns for sentencing.

As officers led Brand to the cells, he mouthed "I'm OK" and "I'm good" to his lawyers and gave a thumbs-up, according to Sky News. His wife, Laura Gallacher, rushed out of the courtroom.

What are the possible sentences?

The numbers are steep. In the U.K., a rape conviction carries up to 19 years in prison and potentially a life sentence, depending on the seriousness of the offense. Sexual assault carries a maximum of 10 years.

Sky News also reported that the Metropolitan Police are now investigating further rape allegations made by two women. That inquiry sits alongside a conviction that already spans decades of alleged conduct.

The charges concerned three women, at various locations, between 1999 and 2009. One alleged victim also accused Brand of sexual assault in addition to oral rape. He faced one count of attempted indecent assault at MTV's U.K. offices in 2001 and one count of sexual assault in 2009.

How did Brand's career reach this courtroom?

Brand's rise was conventional by British media standards, then remarkably lucrative. He started as a comedian on MTV in the U.K., hosted the Channel 4 E4 show "Big Brother's Big Mouth" and fronted "The Russell Brand Show" on BBC Radio 6.

Hollywood followed. He appeared in the 2007 comedy "St Trinian's," starring Talulah Riley, Juno Temple and Colin Firth, then took roles in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Get Him to the Greek" and "Rock of Ages." He voiced Dr Nefario, a recurring character in the "Despicable Me" franchise.

Later he pivoted to podcasting, influencing and politics via his YouTube channel. That empire collapsed in 2023, when The Sunday Times of London and Channel 4's documentary series "Dispatches" published a joint investigation in which five women accused Brand of sexual assault and misconduct.

Monday's sentencing, and the Met's new investigation, will determine how much further the fall goes.