British comedian Russell Brand sentenced to ten years in prison for rape and sexual assault

Briton Russell Brand, star comedian turned conspiracy influencer, was sentenced on Monday, November 9, in London to ten years and six months in prison for rape and three sexual assaults between 2004 and 2009, after a month-long trial. The 51-year-old former comedian and presenter showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down by the judge at Southwark Crown Court. "About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous. You were intelligent and, in many people's eyes, funny and charismatic. But you had also become a sexual predator," Judge Joel Bennathan said.

The fall is spectacular for this man with long hair and piercing black eyes who, in the 2000s, embodied the irreverent spirit of British entertainment. For several years, he has reconverted himself into a conspiracy guru driven by the Christian faith on social networks, where he is followed by millions of people.

Russell Brand was found guilty on Thursday of having raped one of his fans, aged 21 at the time of the facts, and of having sexually assaulted three other women, including an employee of MTV and another of Channel 4. The magistrate highlighted the “stunning arrogance” of Russell Brand, considering that his celebrity had given him the impression that he “could act whenever he wanted and as he wanted”.

For the judge, his "status" had "protected" Russell Brand until 2023, when journalists revealed for the first time a long series of sexual offenses, which led women to file complaints. The judge paid tribute to “the determination and courage of all the women” who testified. As he left the courtroom to be booked into custody, Russell Brand turned to his wife, Laura Gallacher, mother of his three children, and said, "Everything will be fine."