Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after a jury convicted him of rape and three counts of sexual assault, in a ruling handed down Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The 51-year-old comedian, actor and podcaster was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others in incidents dating back to 2004, the period widely regarded as the height of his entertainment career. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Judge Joel Bennathan ordered Brand to serve two-thirds of his sentence before he becomes eligible for release, with nine years imposed for the rape conviction and an additional 18 months for the sexual assault counts. Brand will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Delivering his remarks at sentencing, Judge Bennathan said Brand’s celebrity had let him escape accountability for years.
“You had also become a sexual predator,” Judge Bennathan told Brand.
Brand has denied all of the allegations and has maintained throughout the proceedings that every sexual encounter with his accusers was consensual.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed Brand remains under investigation in connection with two additional alleged rapes, meaning the legal exposure he faces may not be over.
Brand built his early career as a comedian and actor before pivoting in recent years to online political and cultural commentary, including an appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, last December.
