Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault in London court

British comedian Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in a London court on Thursday.

Trial Details

The conviction was handed down at Southwark Crown Court after a jury of eight men and four women spent over eight hours deliberating across two days. Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. He was acquitted of two other rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. Judge Joel Bennathan said the comedian will receive a prison term when sentenced on Monday. Brand denied the charges, saying he was obsessed with sex as a young man but never forced anyone. His lawyers argued the alleged victims waited years to go to police, citing a 2023 documentary that aired anonymous accusations. Brand said the case has devastated his life and family and that friends and colleagues abandoned him. Brand first rose to fame in the early 2000s with risqué stand‑up routines, a BBC radio show and film roles such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. He was briefly married to US singer Katy Perry. In recent years he has stepped away from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and grown a large online following with videos on wellness, conspiracy theories and his spiritual beliefs.

Context

The case follows a broader pattern of high‑profile public figures facing historic sexual‑assault allegations, which often surface years after the alleged incidents.