UK actor and comedian Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.
At the sentencing hearing today (November 9), Judge Mr Justice Bennathan described Brand as a “sexual predator” who displayed “staggering arrogance”.
The court also heard an impact statement from the woman who Brand was convicted of raping in 2009. She said: “I am living with trauma and [it is] something I carry every day.”
Making his submissions to court on the sentencing, Brand’s barrister argued that he is a “fundamentally different person today” and said of the rape conviction that it was a “momentary total failure to respect her consent”.
The prosecution said that the crimes had an “extreme impact” and that the rape victim “suffered significant psychological harm”.
At the trial, which took place at London’s Southwark Crown Court, Brand faced seven charges in total. He was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, and was found not guilty on three counts.
The incidents occurred between 1999 and 2009.
Following last week’s verdict, it was reported that Brand has been questioned by the police over further rape allegations made by two women, with the investigations ongoing.
The allegations against Brand first emerged in a joint investigation released by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in 2023.
After establishing himself as a stand-up comedian and broadcaster, Brand moved into film in 2008, with roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To The Greek, Rock Of Ages, Catherine Called Birdy and Death On The Nile.
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