Russell Brand found guilty of rape, sexual assaults, faces prison

London, Nov 5 (EFE).- British actor and comedian Russell Brand was remanded in custody on Thursday after a London jury found him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, at the end of a highly publicized four-week trial.

The jury, comprising eight men and four women, found Brand guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan after one of his shows at London’s Hammersmith Apollo in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting or groping three other women between 2004 and 2009.

He was acquitted of other sexual offences with which he had been charged.

Judge Joel Bennathan of Southwark Crown Court, in south London, said the verdicts would inevitably result in «a significant prison sentence» before ordering that the 51-year-old actor be held in custody until sentencing.

The sentence is due to be handed down next Monday.

In addition to the rape conviction, Brand was found guilty of groping an MTV broadcaster during a party at a Soho bar in 2004, although the jury acquitted him of orally raping her.

He was also held guilty of sexually assaulting a Capital Radio employee in 2005 and sexually assaulting a Channel 4 employee during what was described in court as a «forced massage» in 2009.

He was acquitted of raping a woman he met at a Labour Party conference in 1999, as well as of attempting to drag another MTV employee into a toilet to sexually assault her in 2001.

Brand shows little emotion as verdicts are read

Brand stood in the dock as the verdicts were read and showed little emotion. He closed his eyes when the jury found him guilty of rape.

When the judge ordered that he remain in custody until sentencing, Brand gestured towards his defense team and said: «I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine,» before being led away.

His lawyer, Ian Winter, had asked the court to grant him bail until Monday as an «act of humanity,» arguing that he needed time to put his affairs in order and «say goodbye to his three young children.»

Winter also maintained that Brand posed no flight risk.

Shortly before the verdicts were delivered, Brand looked towards his wife, Laura Gallacher, who has publicly supported his claim of innocence, and told her: «Laura, I love you.»

He then kissed the pendant he was wearing around his neck.

Gallacher left the courtroom after the ruling without making any public comment.

Police investigating further allegations

Separately, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed on Thursday that Brand is under investigation over additional rape allegations made by two women. The investigations are ongoing.

Preliminary hearings revealed that one of the complaints was made by a woman who dated Brand when he was 30 and she was a 16-year-old student.

The allegations against Brand first came to widespread public attention in September 2023, when several media outlets published a joint investigation into his behavior.

In April 2025, he was charged with offences involving the first four complainants. He pleaded not guilty. Further charges were brought against him in December 2025.

Brand maintained his innocence of the remaining charges at a hearing in February, and the trial began on Oct. 12, lasting four weeks.

Brand rose to prominence in the British entertainment industry in the 1990s, becoming one of the country’s best-known comedians.

He hosted spin-off programmes related to «Big Brother» and presented award ceremonies including the Brit Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards.

His personal life also attracted considerable media attention, particularly after he married American singer Katy Perry in 2010. The couple divorced the following year. EFE

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