Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years and six months for raping one woman, assaulting three

The British comedian and actor Russell Brand was sentenced on 9 November to 10 years and six months in prison for the rape of one woman and sexual assaults on three others.

Judge Joel Bennathan passed the sentence at Southwark Crown Court in London, Reuters reported. Brand, 51, will serve two-thirds of the term in prison before he can be released on licence, the judge said.

The convictions

A jury found Brand guilty in the week before the sentencing. The offences took place between 2004 and 2009, according to Reuters. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault. He had denied all the charges.

The judge called Brand a “sexual predator”. He said Brand had believed that fame let him act as he liked, outside the rules that decent people live by. He said Brand had acted with “staggering arrogance” and shown “contempt” for the women, who had suffered serious and lasting harm, France 24 reported.

Brand showed no emotion as the sentence was read out, France 24 reported. His lawyer, Ian Winter, told the court that Brand had been a very different person for a long time. Reports did not say whether he would appeal.

The background

Brand was one of Britain’s best-known broadcasters in the 2000s and also worked in Hollywood films. In recent years he had moved away from mainstream television and built an online following.

The Metropolitan Police are looking into two further allegations against him, Reuters reported. He has not been charged in those cases.

What’s next

Brand can appeal against his conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal.