Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault

Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and three sexual assaults against four women following a trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.

The offences took place between 2004 and 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The jury also acquitted Brand of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Brand, 51, denied the charges. He told the court that he had never forced anyone to do anything against their will.

He was taken into custody after the verdicts. Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand would receive a “significant” prison sentence; sentencing is scheduled for 9 November.

The Metropolitan Police said it began investigating after allegations involving Brand were reported by Channel 4’s Dispatches, The Times and The Sunday Times in 2023. Police said no CCTV or forensic evidence was available for the historical offences and that detectives spoke to more than 100 witnesses.