Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault at London trial

Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and sexual assault. The 51-year-old was taken into custody straight after the verdicts and will be sentenced on Monday.

What happened?

After a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, a jury found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The jurors deliberated for eight and a half hours.

The rape conviction relates to a fan he met after a 2009 stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo. He was also convicted of groping an MTV worker in 2004, groping a Choice FM worker at the Capital Radio building in 2004 or 2005, and sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker in 2009.

He was cleared of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. Six women gave evidence about incidents between 1999 and 2009. Brand denied all the charges and said everything was consensual.

What did the judge and police say?

Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand to expect a "significant custodial term", meaning a substantial prison sentence. He refused bail, even though Brand's lawyers asked for it so he could explain the verdicts to his children. The judge said there were substantial grounds to fear Brand might not return to face sentencing.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police praised the "extraordinary courage" of the women. A senior prosecutor called Brand "predatory". Brand's father told the BBC he was "bemused and shocked".

It can now also be reported that two more women have made rape allegations against Brand. He has been questioned by officers, and police say their investigation "remains ongoing".

How did we get here?

The allegations first appeared in September 2023, in a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme. Brand strongly denied them.

Prosecutors charged him in April 2025. He pleaded not guilty a few weeks later, and counts involving two more women were added before the trial was set for 2026.

What's next?

Brand returns to court on Monday for sentencing. Until then he stays in custody.