Russell Brand is facing a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others in a case that laid bare allegations of how he used fame and influence to exploit women.
The comedian and actor, 51, was convicted after a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. He was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan in 2009 and of three separate sexual assaults involving women he encountered during the height of his career.
Brand denied all of the allegations and was cleared of three other charges, including two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
His wife, Laura Gallacher, who had supported him throughout the trial, broke down in tears as the guilty verdicts were returned. Brand was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.
Russell Brand, 51, pictured outside Southwark Crown Court today with his wife Laura Gallacher, is facing jail after being found guilty of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women
A tearful Ms Gallacher leaves court without her husband, who was remanded in custody
Brand stands while listening to Judge Mr Justice Bennathan at Southwark Crown Court, London, as he is found guilty of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women
Convicted of rape and three sexual assaults
The most serious conviction concerned a 21-year-old woman who had been a fan of Brand and met him after one of his shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009.
The woman later went to Brand’s £2.3 million townhouse in Hampstead. She told the court that, after what began as consensual but uncomfortable sex, Brand raped her by forcing her into non-consensual anal sex despite her cries of pain.
She described being pushed face down into a pillow on his large bed and struggling to breathe. Afterwards, she was left bleeding and said Brand told her to clean up before turning on the television to watch the science-fiction series Quantum Leap.
A member of staff later ushered her out of the house, and a driver gave her tissues as he took her home. Fearing she may have contracted HIV, she underwent tests, which later came back negative.
The jury also convicted Brand of sexually assaulting an MTV worker at a party in a Soho bar in 2004.
He was acquitted of a separate allegation that he orally raped the same woman in a toilet after the party.
Brand was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a Capital Radio employee in 2005 after encountering her in a corridor. She told the court he pinned her against a wall, groped her and kissed her while members of his entourage watched and laughed.
A fourth conviction related to a Channel 4 employee who was forced to give Brand a massage during a recording session in 2009. The woman told jurors that Brand thrust his head into her groin during the incident.
His wife Ms Gallacher cried as her husband was found guilty in the dock at Southwark Crown Court. She was comforted by friend and held the hand of an aide
A man was heard shouting ‘hold on to Jesus, Russell’ as a large Serco van left Southwark Crown Court. The man also shouted: ‘Hold on to Jesus, warrior.’ Members of the public and the press watched on as the van left the court building shortly after 4.30pm
Brand sits with his bible as he is interviewed by police in July 2025
Brand remanded in custody ahead of sentencing
After eight-and-a-half hours of deliberations, the jury returned four guilty verdicts.
Before the verdicts were announced, Brand looked toward his wife and said: “Laura, I love you.”
Gallacher cried in the public gallery and put her head in her hands as the court heard the jury’s decisions. She was comforted by those around her and later left the court without her husband.
Brand had asked to be granted bail before sentencing so he could explain the outcome of the trial to his three children, aged nine, eight and three, and say goodbye to his family.
His barrister, Ian Winter KC, described the request as an “act of humanity” and argued that Brand was not a flight risk. He said his client was willing to surrender his passport and report to police.
But Mr Justice Bennathan refused the application and ordered Brand to remain in custody.
His wife cried just before he was convicted and he told her he loved her as he entered the dock
Brand, pictured in a 2023 police interview, preyed on women he encountered while becoming one of Britain’s best-known stand-up comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood movie star
Brand raped the 21-year-old fan on this bed in the bedroom of his home in Hampstead, north London
The judge said Brand’s convictions meant a significant custodial sentence was inevitable.
“I regret the hardship caused to the children, of course,” the judge said after hearing of Brand’s wish to spend time with his family before sentencing.
However, he pointed to Brand’s considerable resources and said there were substantial grounds to fear that he might ultimately not return to face his sentence.
Brand replied, “Yes, my Lord,” when told he would be remanded into custody. Before being led away, he made OK gestures to his legal team and repeatedly said: “I’m good, I’m good, I’m good.”
Prosecutors said fame and power were used to exploit women
Ms Gallacher had been at almost every day of the four week trial at Southwark Crown Court but left without her husband this afternoon
Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed Brand as a man who used his celebrity status to pursue women with little regard for consent.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC described women as a “disposable commodity” to Brand and called him a “sexual predator.”
The prosecution said his victims had described being forced into sexual activity, in some cases shortly after meeting him, while Brand pursued what was described in court as a goal of sleeping with 5,000 women.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said the convictions were a “watershed moment” and praised the women who came forward despite intense public and media scrutiny.
Speaking outside the court, he said he hoped the verdict would encourage other victims of rape and serious sexual assault to report their experiences.
“Today’s verdict is first and foremost a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them,” he said.
“Brand used his influence, status and fame to prey on and exploit women. As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement.”
David Roberts, Senior Crown Prosecutor in the London Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Unit, said Brand had used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes.
“Although his tactics varied, at the centre of every assault was an abuse of power and sexual greed, with a complete disregard for the impact of his actions,” he said.
Brand had denied every charge
Brand maintained his innocence throughout the month-long trial.
He argued that he had been the victim of a “trial by media” after allegations against him were made public in 2023 through reporting by The Times, The Sunday Times and a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary.
His legal team also argued that the extensive media coverage had made it impossible for him to receive a fair trial. An earlier attempt to prevent the trial from going ahead on the grounds of negative publicity was rejected by Mr Justice Bennathan.
During the proceedings, Brand’s defence challenged some of his accusers over why they had not fought back, run away or screamed.
Brand, who has become a born-again Christian, continued recording religious podcasts during the trial. He carried a Bible and a cross to court and spoke publicly about feeling the presence of God and entering the proceedings in the “full armour of God.”
Religion, however, played little role in the evidence heard by the jury, which focused on allegations dating from before his Christian conversion.
Allegations date back to the height of Brand’s career
The offences for which Brand was convicted took place as he was becoming one of Britain’s most recognisable entertainers.
He had secured a major television breakthrough in 2004 as the host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth, before going on to become a successful stand-up comedian, television and radio presenter and Hollywood actor.
The MTV worker whose case formed one of the convictions told the court that she had not reported the alleged assault to police at the time because of the culture surrounding celebrity.
“He was a celebrity and it would be his word against mine,” she said. “I just thought the odds weren’t in my favour.”
Another woman, who worked at Capital Radio, said Brand forced himself on her during a visit to the station in 2005 while members of his entourage looked on.
The 21-year-old fan whose rape led to the most serious conviction later encountered Brand again at the Edinburgh Festival. She told the court that he apologised after she told him he had treated her “like an animal.”
Brand was acquitted of an allegation that he raped another woman at the Labour Party conference in 1999, as well as an allegation that he attempted to indecently assault an MTV worker.
Further allegations could lead to new charges
Following the convictions, it emerged that prosecutors are considering further allegations against Brand.
The Crown Prosecution Service is seeking to bring charges in relation to a 16-year-old girl whom Brand is accused of sexually assaulting after allegedly grooming her when he was 30.
The girl, identified by the pseudonym “Alice” in the Channel 4 Dispatches programme that examined allegations against Brand in 2023, claimed that a BBC car collected her from school and took her to Brand’s home, where she was later abused.
She said that during their three-month relationship Brand called her “my little dolly” and alleged that she had to punch him to stop an oral rape.
Legal arguments not heard by the jury revealed that Brand faces what were described as “outstanding charges” in connection with those allegations.
Police are also continuing to investigate rape allegations made by two other women.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said files relating to both complainants had been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and that detectives remained in close contact with prosecutors as further enquiries continued.
At least two additional women had reportedly come forward before the trial, while prosecutors limited the criminal case heard by the jury to six complainants.
Any decision to pursue further charges could result in a second trial.
Civil claims remain pending
Brand is already facing civil claims in Britain and the United States.
A High Court claim from a woman seeking £100,000 in damages over alleged personal injury and sexual abuse has been put on hold pending the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
The woman, identified in legal documents only as AGX, alleges that Brand forced himself on her at his Los Angeles mansion in 2008, when she was 23. She claims she fled the property half-dressed after he allegedly pushed her onto a bed and attempted sexual acts against her will.
A separate lawsuit in New York involves allegations by an extra on the 2011 romantic comedy Arthur, who accused Brand of exposing himself to cast members before sexually assaulting her in a lavatory on set.
None of the women involved in the criminal trial have submitted compensation claims, but the convictions could open the way for civil action by them or other potential claimants.
Broadcaster and media organisations respond
Brand’s conviction also prompted a response from the BBC, where he worked as a Radio 2 DJ between 2005 and 2008.
The broadcaster had previously received more than a dozen sexual misconduct complaints relating to his time at the station.
Following the verdict, the BBC said there could be no place for the abuse of power and that the industry needed to ensure people who suffer abuse feel able to report it.
The Times and The Sunday Times, whose reporting formed part of the 2023 investigation into Brand, said the verdict was a testament to the courage of the women who came forward.
A spokesman said many women who had participated in the investigation did not have their cases brought before a court, but that their contributions had been important in bringing the allegations to light.
Channel 4 said the outcome belonged to all the women who had spoken out and described the case as a demonstration of the importance of fearless, independent investigative journalism.
There was also controversy after Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, confronted Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin as he left the courtroom.
He was heard telling her, “I hope you are pleased with yourself.”
When she replied that she was pleased justice had been done, Winter responded with an expletive before adding: “Congratulations.”
Sunday Times editor Ben Taylor later described the outburst as “reprehensible,” saying it appeared to question the integrity of the jury, the judge and others involved in the case.
A prison sentence now awaits
Brand’s 2007 memoir, My Booky Wook, was also revisited during the trial. In the book, he described himself as “demonically sexy” and wrote about his determined pursuit of sex and other desires.
Now, following his convictions for rape and three sexual assaults, Brand faces the prospect of years in prison.
He is due to be sentenced on Monday at Southwark Crown Court after being remanded into custody.
The convictions leave the former comedian and broadcaster confronting a dramatically different reality from the one he described to his followers during the trial. According to the judge, a significant custodial sentence is inevitable, while the verdicts mean Brand will also face the long-term consequences of being a convicted sex offender.