Russell Brand has been jailed for ten years and six months after being found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults at Southwark Crown Court in London.

The sentence was handed down on Monday 9 November by Mr Justice Bennathan, four days after a jury convicted the 51-year-old former comedian and presenter. Brand, who had denied all the charges, was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, and cleared of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The judge sentenced Brand to nine years in prison for the rape, with sentences of nine months, 18 months and eight months for the three sexual assaults. The total sentence is ten years and six months, and Brand must serve two-thirds of it before he becomes eligible for release on licence.

Judge calls Brand a sexual predator

Sentencing Brand, Mr Justice Bennathan said that about 20 years ago, as Brand was becoming famous, he had also become a sexual predator. The judge said Brand had shown what he described as an arrogant disregard for a woman’s right to say no, and praised the bravery of the women who gave evidence.

The offences involved four women and took place between 2004 and 2009. The rape was committed against a 21-year-old woman at Brand’s home in 2009, while the sexual assaults included attacks on women working in television and radio. The trial, which began on 12 October, lasted around four weeks and heard evidence from six women.

Before the sentence was passed, the court heard victim impact statements from the four women. One woman, who was sexually assaulted at a bar in London in 2004, told the court in person that she had literally lost any love for herself for a long time and had been left thinking she was damaged goods. Another victim, who was raped in 2009, described a never-ending trauma and said Brand’s fame, wealth and influence had created a power imbalance that left her feeling powerless.

Reaction to the sentence

As Brand left the dock, he mouthed “I love you” to his wife, Laura Brand, who had supported him throughout the trial. He had spent the weekend before sentencing in custody at HMP Wandsworth after the jury returned its verdicts on Thursday 5 November.

The Metropolitan Police described Brand as a dangerous offender who had been brought to justice thanks to the courage of his victims. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said reporting sexual offences could be incredibly difficult and praised the women for their bravery, dignity and resilience throughout a lengthy investigation and challenging trial.

Health minister Karyn Smith told Times Radio it was really distressing that men in positions of power had been allowed to keep committing abuse, and urged all institutions to reflect on why that culture was allowed to continue. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the bravery of the victims would change the system and promised to be relentless in making whatever improvements could be made to how rape trials are run.

Further reports under investigation

The case may not be over. Two further rape allegations against Brand are currently under investigation, and fresh reports have reached police since the conviction. The original allegations against Brand first emerged in September 2023, when a Channel 4 documentary and a Sunday Times investigation reported accounts from four women, prompting more women to come forward to police.

Brand was a BBC radio presenter from 2006 until the corporation parted ways with him in 2008. He later built a large online following as a commentator and influencer. Throughout the trial he maintained that he was not guilty, and his lawyers argued that the jury should separate behaviour they might find distasteful from criminal conduct. The jury’s verdicts, and now the sentence, bring the first part of the case to a close, but any further charges would be a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.