British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been jailed for 10 years and six months after being convicted of raping and sexually assaulting three women.
Brand, 51, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, November 9, after a four-week trial.
A jury found him guilty of one count of rape and three charges of sexual assault against four women between 2004 and 2009.
Judge Joel Bennathan said during Brand’s sentencing hearing that he was a sexual predator and had abused his celebrity status, power and influence whilst ignoring women’s right to turn down sex.
“You have become increasingly well-known and increasingly behaved…in a way that led to this criminality.”
Brand appeared impassive as the sentence was given. He had been detained at HMP Wandsworth since his conviction last week.
Sentenced For Sexual Offences
The convictions come after allegations were made by six women.
The jury found Brand guilty of raping one woman in 2009 after meeting at one of his shows in West London.
He was also found guilty of three separate sexual assaults against three women linked to a bar in London, a radio station and a TV workplace.
However, Brand was found not guilty of two further rapes and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
Throughout the trial Brand denied the allegations were true and claimed all sexual activity was consensual.
Although he admitted to leading a very promiscuous lifestyle he did not admit to forcing anyone into sexual activity.
The prosecution claimed he had abused his celebrity and power to get close to women.
Judge Condemns Brand’s Actions
During Brand’s sentencing hearing Judge Bennathan condemned his actions and said there was no excuse for his behaviour due to his celebrity status.
“Women have the right to say no to sex no matter what they are wearing, where they are or what they are drinking,” the judge said.
Brand’s sentencing was also based on his lack of serious convictions in the past and his involvement in charity work.
Russell Brand was sentenced to nine years in prison for the rape charge and additional charges for the sexual assaults meaning he will spend a total of 10 years and six months in prison.
Brand’s will also be added to the sex offender’s register for life. He is likely to serve two thirds of his sentence before being released on licence.
Emotional Statements From Victims
Before Brand’s sentencing, powerful statements were made by the four women who were victims of the charges.
They spoke about how they had been affected emotionally, psychologically and personally.
One said she had suffered for years and had lost confidence and wellbeing.
Another, who was raped in 2009, said she had struggled to cope with the aftermath of the incident, suffering from sleeping issues and emotional issues.
Another said Brand was a sexual predator and had impacted her life for many years.
These statements show how sexual violence can impact people’s lives and how difficult it can be to come forward with allegations against high-profile individuals.
Police Praise Outcome
London’s Metropolitan Police said they were pleased with the outcome and praised the women for coming forward with their allegations.
“They showed incredible bravery and determination,” police officials said.
The Crown Prosecution Service also pointed out that no matter how famous someone is they are still responsible for their criminal actions.
However, Brand may not be finished with legal issues as police have confirmed they are investigating two further rape allegations against him.
From TV Star To Jail
Brand became well known across the UK in the early 2000s for his TV, radio, comedy and film work.
He became a global entertainer, appearing in Hollywood films and gaining a large fan base online.
In recent years he has moved into podcasting, spirituality and political commentary gaining a large audience online.
The legal issues have brought his career back into the spotlight.
With a 10 year and six month jail sentence, Brand will have a long time to serve in prison whilst police investigate further allegations.