Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
The 51-year-old comedian and actor was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court this afternoon (November 5). He was acquitted of two other rape charges and an attempted indecent assault.
He will return to court to be sentenced on Monday (November 9).
There was silence in the courtroom as the verdicts were delivered, nine hours and 13 minutes after the jury began deliberations, reports .
Brand stood straight and still in the dock as the seven verdicts were announced. The judge then told Brand the consequence of the verdicts is a “significant custodial term”.
He added: “You’ve been convicted of a number of offences including rape. The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term. My current view is that I therefore have to remand you into custody.”
Of the accusations brought against him, Brand has been found guilty of raping one woman and assaulting three others over the course of five years.
The court heard testimony from the six complainants, who all came forward to the police following reporting from Channel 4’s and in September 2023.
The most graphic evidence related to the rape for which Brand was convicted which took place in 2009, involving a victim who had met him after his performance at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, where she had engaged in a sexual encounter in his dressing room, reports .
She recounted how days later she had gone to his home where during consensual sex, he had anally raped her.
Brand was also convicted of sexual assaulting a woman at a bar London in 2004. The victim alleged that Brand had approached her at a party and grabbed her breasts.
He was found guilty over another incident in 2009 where he allegedly demanded that a woman give him a massage before he put his head between her legs as they worked on a promotion for a project. The court heard it took place in front of two of Brand’s colleagues.
A woman working for a radio station also alleged that he had assaulted her during a frenzied attack in front of his entourage.
Following the verdict, the Met Police told that Brand is now under investigation for further allegations of rape made by two women.
A spokesperson added: “The Met’s investigation into allegations of rape made by two women remains ongoing. The suspect has previously been interviewed under caution in connection with the allegations.
“Files have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to both complainants. Detectives remain in close contact with prosecutors as enquiries continue and further investigative work is carried out.”