Last updated 6 November 2026 at 05:35 PKT.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London has convicted comedian and actor Russell Brand of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, in a verdict that ends a trial lasting several weeks and covering allegations spanning a decade. Brand, 51, was remanded in custody after the verdict and faces what the judge described as a "significant" prison term when he is sentenced on Monday, 9 November.
The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for more than eight hours over two days before returning its verdicts on Thursday, 5 November. Brand was acquitted of two further rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. He had denied all seven charges.
Brand showed little emotion as the verdicts were read, closing his eyes when the guilty verdict on the rape count was announced, according to the Associated Press. When bail was refused, he gestured to his lawyers that he was all right, repeatedly saying, "I'm good, I'm good, I'm good," before being taken away.
What the jury decided
The trial concerned seven alleged offences involving six women, between 1999 and 2009 — the years in which Brand rose from stand-up comedy in small venues to television presenting and Hollywood film roles, prosecutors said.
Brand was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at a birthday party at a London bar in 2004, and of kissing and groping another woman at a London radio station in 2004 or 2005. He was also convicted of raping a fan he had met backstage at one of his comedy shows in 2009, and of sexually assaulting a woman working on a Channel 4 project the same year, when he demanded a massage and pressed his face into her groin during the recording of an advertisement.
He was acquitted of raping another woman in a hotel room during the Labour Party's annual conference in Bournemouth in 1999, and of attempting to indecently assault a woman by dragging her into the men's bathroom at the London office of music channel MTV.
| Charge | Period | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Rape (fan met backstage, 2009) | 2009 | Guilty |
| Sexual assault (London bar, birthday party) | 2004 | Guilty |
| Sexual assault (London radio station) | 2004–2005 | Guilty |
| Sexual assault (Channel 4 project) | 2009 | Guilty |
| Rape (hotel room, Bournemouth) | 1999 | Not guilty |
| Rape (second count) | — | Not guilty |
| Attempted indecent assault (MTV office) | — | Not guilty |
"A ruthless, calculating, manipulative sexual predator"
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors that Brand was a ruthless, calculating, manipulative "sexual predator" who treated women as a "disposable commodity", and she used his own words to illustrate his sex drive — reading an excerpt from his 2007 memoir, My Booky Wook: "If I want something – whether it's a job or a woman – I will determinedly, resolutely, remove anything that's in the way, until I possess the object of my desire."
Brand's former personal assistant, Helen Berger, testified against him, saying he had an "insane sexual appetite" and treated women poorly, and that his "bad behaviour" was normalised by those around him until she eventually got "sick of him" and quit.
Brand testified that he had been obsessed with sex as a young man and had once led a promiscuous life, but had never forced anyone to do something against their will. He acknowledged he had used his fame to have sex, which he said was wrong, and told jurors the case had consumed his life. His wife, Laura, who accompanied him to court, testified as a character witness, but Brand said no one with relevant evidence was willing to give evidence on his behalf.
"Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women. As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement."
— Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, Metropolitan Police
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of London's Metropolitan Police said after the verdicts that the conviction was "a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them."
How the case reached court
The complainants came forward following a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4 that aired accusations from women who said they had been sexually abused and degraded by Brand. The six complainants in the trial did not know each other, according to Reuters, but all came forward to police in the wake of the 2023 reports. The women are entitled to lifelong anonymity under British law, and the Associated Press does not name victims of alleged sexual violence.
Brand was once one of Britain's most high-profile broadcasters, known for edgy stand-up and a BBC radio show, and appeared in Hollywood films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. He was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry. In recent years he moved away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida, and built a large online following.
Context: the verdict is separate from a continuing Metropolitan Police investigation. After the trial, police confirmed they have provided prosecutors with their investigation into two further rape allegations against Brand, including an allegation involving a woman who was 16 at the time. Brand was interviewed under caution and files were sent to prosecutors, according to police.
What happens next
Judge Joel Bennathan refused bail and remanded Brand in custody. "I regret the hardship caused to the children, of course," the judge said, referring to Brand's three children. "But the hardship has been caused by serious criminal offending by their father."
Brand will be sentenced on Monday, 9 November. In England and Wales, a rape conviction carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with sentencing guidelines of four to 19 years in custody. One UK solicitor estimated to Page Six that Brand could receive around eight to nine years, though the final sentence is for the judge to decide — including whether the sexual assault sentences run concurrently with the rape sentence or consecutively.
What is not yet known: the length of the sentence has not been decided and will only be known on 9 November. The two further rape allegations under police investigation have not resulted in charges, and no details about them have been confirmed in court. Any estimate of the sentence length is a lawyer's prediction, not a court decision.
Frequently asked questions
When will he be sentenced?
On Monday, 9 November 2026. Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand faces a "significant" prison term, and refused bail, remanding him in custody until sentencing. Rape carries a maximum of life imprisonment in England and Wales, with sentencing guidelines of four to 19 years in custody; one solicitor estimated eight to nine years, but the judge alone decides.
Are there other investigations?
Yes. The Metropolitan Police confirmed after the verdict that they are investigating two further rape allegations against Brand, including one involving a woman who was 16 at the time. No charges have been brought in that investigation.
Why did the case take so long to reach court?
The alleged offences date from 1999 to 2009. The complainants came forward after a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4, which reported accusations from women who said they had been sexually abused by Brand.
Key takeaways
- A London jury convicted Russell Brand of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, acquitting him on three further charges.
- The allegations spanned 1999 to 2009 and involved six women who did not know each other.
- Judge Joel Bennathan remanded Brand in custody and said he faces a "significant" prison term; sentencing is on Monday, 9 November.
- Prosecutors described Brand as a "sexual predator" who used his fame to exploit women; Brand denied forcing anyone to do anything against their will.
- A separate Metropolitan Police investigation into two further rape allegations remains open, with no charges yet brought.
What to watch next: the sentencing hearing on Monday, 9 November, when the length of Brand's prison term will be set — and whether prosecutors bring charges from the separate Metropolitan Police investigation into two further rape allegations.
