Russell Brand Sentenced to Ten and a Half Years for Rape and Sexual Assault

LONDON: Southwark Crown Court on Monday sentenced British actor and comedian Russell Brand to ten and a half years in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. Express Tribune reported that the offences took place almost two decades ago, between 2004 and 2009.

Brand, 51, was found guilty on Thursday. He had denied all the charges. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Judge Joel Bentham said in his ruling that Brand was a sexual predator who believed fame meant he could act when and how he liked, without regard to the principles by which decent people live. The judge said Brand would serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison and would then be released on licence.

During the hearing, prosecutors read out a statement from a victim whom Brand raped in 2009. She said she carries the trauma of the attack with her every day, and that it often feels as though it will never end.

Brand’s lawyer, Ian Winter, said his client had spoken openly about overcoming alcohol and drug addiction and about his recently adopted Christian faith, and that he is now a fundamentally different person. After the sentence was passed, Brand looked at his wife and mouthed “I love you”, and he was taken down from the dock to the cells below.

The Metropolitan Police said Brand is under investigation over two further alleged rapes, one involving a 16-year-old girl at the time. The police chief said on Friday that he would not be surprised if more victims came forward.