Photo: Xuthoria / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
The Lowdown
A London jury on Thursday found Russell Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, offences against four women between 2004 and 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service said (CPS; AP). He was cleared of three other charges, has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on Monday, Nov. 9.
Key Takeaways
- Guilty: one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, after a trial of about four weeks at Southwark Crown Court (CPS).
- Not guilty: two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault (BBC News).
- Brand, 51, had pleaded not guilty to all seven charges, which involved six women (ABC News).
- The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, refused bail and told Brand a “significant” custodial term would follow (AP).
- Sentencing is set for Monday, Nov. 9 (CPS).
What Happened
The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for more than eight hours before returning its verdicts on Thursday, according to the Associated Press (ABC News). The CPS said the offences it proved took place between 2004 and 2009, as Brand’s career grew from stand-up comedy into television and film (CPS).
The case grew out of a 2023 joint investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times. The Metropolitan Police opened an inquiry that year and first charged Brand in April 2025 (ABC News). Brand had denied every charge. The BBC reported that he is also being investigated over further rape allegations made by two other women, which have not led to charges (BBC News).
Brand had been on bail throughout the trial. The judge refused his request to remain free before sentencing, citing the risk that he might flee, AP reported (AP). Under UK law, all of the women in the case are entitled to lifelong anonymity (BBC News).
What Happens Next
Brand will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, Nov. 9. No sentence has been handed down yet. Any appeal would be a separate process, and PCP will update this story after sentencing. For more celebrity news, see Celebrity.
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More Context
- Crown Prosecution Service — Russell Brand convicted of non-recent sexual offences against four women ↗
- AP — Russell Brand is convicted of rape, and judge says he’ll get a prison term ↗
- BBC News — Russell Brand found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults ↗
- ABC News — Russell Brand found guilty in UK rape, sexual assault trial ↗