Brand faces prison sentence Monday
A London judge will determine the length of Russell Brand's custodial term following a guilty verdict on four sexual crime charges.
By Eric Collins ·
Southwark Crown Court in London will determine the length of Russell Brand's prison sentence on Monday. The comedian, who is 51 years old, received a guilty verdict on Thursday for four counts of sexual offenses. Judge Joel Bennathan told Brand he faced a significant custodial term after the jury returned its decision.
The trial began in late October and lasted four weeks. Prosecutors presented seven historic charges from 2004 to 2009 brought by six women. The jury found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Brand had denied all charges, maintaining that he never had sex without consent.
The incidents occurred at various locations including a bar, a radio station, and a TV studio. One rape count involved a woman who attended a comedy show in 2009. The other assaults took place between 2004 and 2009. Brand's legal team requested bail on Thursday so he could spend the weekend with his three children. Judge Bennathan denied the request. Brand spent his first weekend in a London prison cell.
Brand showed little emotion when the verdict was read. His wife Laura, who supported him during the trial, left the courtroom quickly. Danny Shaw, a crime commentator and former BBC correspondent, noted that the average sentence for rape in the UK is 10 years. Shaw predicted Brand would receive between four and 13 years in prison.
London police detective Andy Furphy addressed the media last week regarding the case. He said Brand used his influence, status, and fame to prey on women. Furphy added that Brand's sense of entitlement grew as his profile increased. Camilla Long, a journalist for The Sunday Times, wrote a column this weekend describing her experience in Court 3. She called hearing the evidence one of the most disgusting experiences of her life.
Brand also faces allegations in the United States. In 2023, a woman identified as Jane Doe accused him of sexual assault while she worked as a film extra on the 2010 movie Arthur. Brand married pop star Katy Perry that same year. The couple divorced after slightly more than a year of marriage. Long questioned how Brand was able to continue his career for so long after declaring himself a spiritual influencer.
The judge will read the specific prison term on Monday. Brand remains in custody until that time.
