British comedian and actor Russell Brand, who reinvented himself as a born-again Christian after allegations of rape and sexual misconduct emerged, has been found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault by a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Brand, 51, was convicted earleir today following a four-week trial involving allegations made by six women. The offences for which he was found guilty took place between 2004 and 2009, during the period when Russell Brand was becoming a prominent television and radio personality in the UK.
The jury found him guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman at his home in Hampstead in 2009. The woman had met Brand after attending one of his stand-up comedy performances. She told the court that she had initially agreed to sex but that Brand subsequently raped her.
He was also convicted of sexually assaulting three other women, including a woman working for MTV, a radio employee and a Channel 4 worker.
Brand had pleaded not guilty to all seven charges and maintained that his sexual encounters were consensual. The jury acquitted him of two further rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
The comedian, who became an online political commentator and born-again Christian in recent years, was baptised as a Christian in 2024, after the allegations against him became public.
Following the verdict, the judge refused Brand bail and remanded him in custody. He is due to be sentenced on Monday, 9 November. The judge indicated that he should expect a significant prison sentence. Rape carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in England and Wales.
The Metropolitan Police have also confirmed that Brand remains under investigation over two further allegations of rape.
Newsroom
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