Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years for rape and sexual assaults

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Russell Brand has been sentenced to more than 10 years, following convictions of rape and sexual assault.

The 51-year-old former actor and comedian was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting three others, all of whom were female TV and radio workers.

The offences took place between 2004 and 2009, during the height of Brand’s fame.

Today, November 9, at Southwark Court, Mr Justice Bennathan, sentenced Brand to 10 years and six months.

Russell Brand with his wife Laura Gallacher (Image: Maja Smiejkowska/PA)

Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years and six months

On Monday, Mr Justice Bennathan slammed Brand’s 'staggering arrogance' as he sentenced him to 10-and-a-half years in prison for rape and three counts of sexual assault.

Sentencing judge Mr Justice Bennathan told rapist comedian Russell Brand he had become a 'sexual predator' as he was starting to become famous.

Beginning his sentencing remarks, he told the defendant: “About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous.

“You were clever – and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic.

“You had also become a sexual predator.”

Brand showed no emotion as he was jailed for 10 years and six months, but told his wife 'we’ll be OK' as he was taken downstairs by the dock officers.

The couple shared a brief conversation before the shamed comedian was taken downstairs.

Ahead of the sentencing, victim statements were shared in the courtroom, with Brand's rape victim sharing: "When I eventually reported what had happened, it was not simply because of the media documentary.

"By that stage I had become aware of the police investigation and felt that I was finally in a stronger position mentally to disclose my experience.

"Reporting what happened was something I had hoped I would eventually be able to do, but it took a long time to reach that point."

The sentencing follows a four-week trial that revealed how Brand used his celebrity status to exploit and abuse women.

During the trial, Brand described his life as 'promiscuous' and 'full of idiocy', but claimed all sexual encounters were consensual and denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Victims, however, painted a starkly different picture of a powerful man who kissed and groped women moments after meeting them, pursued sexual encounters aggressively, and later dismissed or ridiculed them for objecting to his behaviour.

Brand was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan in 2009, whom he met after a stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo.

Russell Brand leaves Southwark Crown Court, London, (Image: PA)

The woman, who told jurors she was a huge Brand fan, said she had consensually participated in a threesome with the comedian backstage that night, despite having a boyfriend.

She later visited Brand’s Hampstead home for sex, but said the encounter turned violent when he forcibly raped her.

Brand was also convicted of sexually assaulting a woman at a Nordic bar in Soho in 2004, groping her breasts just seconds after being introduced to her.

Another victim described how Brand kissed and groped her during a 2005 visit to Capital Radio’s London studios, and said she looked to his entourage for help but no one intervened.

Brand was also convicted of putting his head into the groin of a female Channel 4 worker, after she had been forced to give him a massage in 2009.

The woman told the court how Brand had refused to continue a recording session unless she massaged him, and members of his entourage encouraged it instead of protecting her.

During the trial, Brand’s 2007 memoir, My Booky Wook, was cited as evidence, including his claim that he would not stop pursuing sex until achieving his 'birthright orgasm'.

Russell Brand and his wife Laura Gallacher outside Southwark Crown Court. (Image: PA)

Brand was cleared of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Following his convictions, the Metropolitan Police confirmed Brand is under investigation for two additional rape allegations.

Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, warned that more victims may come forward.

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