Russell Brand sentenced to more than ten years in prison for rape and sexual assault

British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been sentenced to ten years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault. The responsible court in London announced this on Monday.

A jury of eight men and four women found the 51-year-old guilty last week. He was convicted of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three other women. The allegations dated back to 2004. He was acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of attempted sexual assault.

Brand has denied the allegations and described his sexual encounters as consensual. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones described Brand as a ruthless sexual predator who treated women like “disposable products”.

The plaintiffs reported to the authorities after The Times newspaper and Channel 4 reported in 2023 on allegations from women who said they had been victims of sexual abuse by Brand.

One of the women accused of abusing Brand spoke in court Monday about the impact the crime had on her. The others had statements read out by the public prosecutor.

At Monday's court appearance, Brand wore a gray suit and open-collar shirt with a loosely tied white tie. In his right hand he held a crucifix.

Defense attorney Ian Winter asked the judge to consider Brand's good character; He pointed out that there was only one conviction for marijuana possession in 1995 and that Brand was also involved in charitable work and helped other people overcome their drug and alcohol problems.

At Southwark Crown Court, Brand was accompanied by his wife Laura - who entered the courthouse separately - and his father Ron Brand. Russell Brand was at large during the trial but was jailed after Thursday's verdict.

Brand became famous in the early 2000s. He was a presenter of television programs and a radio show on the BBC. As an actor, he appeared in Hollywood films such as “Never Have Sex With Your Ex Again” and “Men's Trip”. He is also known for his short marriage to pop star Katy Perry.

In recent years, Brand has increasingly distanced himself from mainstream media. He moved to Florida and created videos discussing wellness topics, conspiracy theories, and his religious beliefs.