Russell Brand jailed for 10 years and 6 months

A judge has jailed British comedian Russell Brand for more than 10 years for a string of sex offences, calling him a "predator" who showed "staggering arrogance" and contempt for his victims.

Brand, 51, showed no emotion as judge Joel Bennathan passed sentence at London's Southwark Crown Court after the ex-TV star was convicted last week of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009.

The Metropolitan Police said Brand is a "dangerous offender" who has been brought to justice thanks to the "courage" of his victims.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said: "Today's sentence marks a significant milestone in our investigation and means Russell Brand has been held accountable for his crimes.

"My thoughts today are with the women who came forward and made this investigation possible.

"Reporting sexual offences can be incredibly difficult, and they have shown immense bravery, dignity and resilience throughout what has been a lengthy investigation and challenging trial process.

"The victims have had to revisit deeply traumatic experiences and endure significant public and media attention. I hope today's outcome provides some measure of closure and allows them to continue rebuilding their lives.

"Their courage in coming forward has not only led to this outcome but may also give confidence to others who have suffered sexual violence to seek help and report what happened to them.

"I hope they recognise just how powerful their actions have been, and the difference they may make to others.

"From the very beginning, our investigation was never about Russell Brand's profile, status or celebrity.

"Our focus has always been on the women who reported these offences and on conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations they made.

"I am incredibly proud of the investigation team, who worked tirelessly to gather evidence, pursue every available line of enquiry and support the victims throughout the process.

"Working closely with colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service, they built a case that has ultimately resulted in a dangerous offender being brought to justice."

He added: "Finally, I want to make a direct appeal to anyone who has been a victim of rape or any other sexual offence.

"We know it can take enormous courage to speak about what has happened to you, no matter how long ago it occurred or who was responsible.

"If you come forward, you will be listened to, supported and treated with care and compassion."

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Brand's conviction and sentence "shows that fame, status and the passage of time do not change the fundamental issue of consent".

David Roberts, senior Crown prosecutor for the CPS, said: "We want to thank all the women who were at the heart of this case. They did not know each other and each has carried what happened to them for almost two decades."

Brand's wife Laura Gallacher made no expression and answered no questions as she walked out of Southwark Crown Court and got into a black minivan parked behind a crowd outside.

'Staggering arrogance'

One of his fans told how she was raped as a 21-year-old by Brand in 2009 at his luxury London home, while female staffers at Channel 4, MTV, and Capital Radio came forward to reveal how they had been sexually assaulted by the TV star.

Mr Justice Bennathan has slammed Brand's "staggering arrogance" as he sentenced him to 10 and a half years in prison for rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The judge told Brand: "About 20 years ago Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people's eyes you were funny and charismatic.

"You had also become a sexual predator."

The judge said Brand's "status protected you" until in 2023 journalists from the Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches first exposed a litany of sexual misconduct, leading to women making complaints to police.

He said Brand harboured a "casual arrogant disregard to any woman's right to say no to you", while his fame meant he believed "you could act when you liked and how you liked".

The judge said the evidence in the case also showed that Brand’s entourage during his celebrity heyday had "indulged your dreadful behaviour".

'A sexual predator who has no remorse'

Ms Gallacher sat just a few feet away from the shamed comedian in the glass-walled dock and has vowed to stand by her husband.

Brand displayed no emotion in the dock as he was told his punishment, and he paused briefly to tell his wife "we’ll be OK" as he was being led away to the cells.

One of the victims called Brand "a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life".

The rape victim told the court how she was a big fan of Brand before going to see him at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009, and she was picked out of the crowd by the comedian to join him backstage.

She willingly engaged in a threesome at the venue, then agreed to visit Brand's £2.3 million (€2.76m) townhouse in Hampstead Village to have sex.

But she said the encounter turned into rape when Brand had anal sex with her, ignored her pleas for him to stop, and pinned her down so she was struggling to breathe.

She told the court that Brand's rising fame, with starring roles in Hollywood films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Arthur, his marriage to singer Katy Perry, and his subsequent appearances on TV, radio, stage, and podcasts, left her afraid to speak out for years.

"I felt that if I reported him, I would not be believed", she said.

"His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless."

The woman gave compelling evidence to Brand's trial about willingly going to his home for sex, but the encounter starting off in unnerving fashion when he forced her to strip, shower, and brush her teeth.

She said the initial sex was "awkward" and unenjoyable but consensual, but it turned to rape when Brand started having anal sex without consent.

After the attack, Brand forced his victim to clean up the mess on the bed, then coldly ejected her from his home.

He was convicted of sexually assaulting a female Channel 4 worker during a recording session in 2009, shortly after he had started dating Ms Perry.

The woman, who was working alone with Brand and his entourage, was forced to massage the star when he threatened to derail the recording session, at which point he knelt down and thrust his head into her groin.

She told the court her complaint at the time to Channel 4 was "brushed under the carpet by senior management".

She said: "There was a culture at the time which meant I felt I had to just carry on and not talk about it anymore.

"Which meant I did not give myself time to lament on it, boxed it up and pushed it aside."

The woman said she was "quite innocent" before the attack by Brand, and his actions "burst that bubble".

She added: "I felt powerless in that moment, and it had a knock-on effect on my confidence because I felt like I had no control on that day and there was nothing I could do about what he did to me."

Brand was also found guilty by the jury of sexually assaulting an MTV worker in a Soho bar in 2004 during a birthday party.

Brand, wearing a "weird maniacal grin", grabbed the woman's breasts within seconds of meeting her.

The judge said the woman was "extremely upset and traumatised", illustrated by the fact she was walking the streets of London later in the evening while crying on the phone to a friend.

Brand was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a Capital Radio worker when she bumped into him in a corridor in 2005.

She told the court Brand kissed her "sloppily", groped her body, and just laughed when she eventually managed to push him away.

The judge said members of Brand's entourage "no doubt…thought it was outrageous, laddish behaviour only you could get away with".

But he told Brand: "It was outrageous and laddish, but it was also a criminal offence, and as it happens you haven't got away with it."

She said in her victim impact statement: "Russell Brand is a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life.

"I just hope that he is not allowed to hurt any more women."

Brand was remanded into custody straight away after his conviction on Thursday last week.

Arriving in the dock on Monday morning, he mouthed to his wife "It'll be okay, I don’t know how, but it will", and he was seen praying and making a cross sign with his hand as the victim statements were aired.

Defence barrister Ian Winter KC told the court that Ms Gallacher, the sister of TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher and the daughter of Ryder Cup winning golfer Bernard Gallacher, is coping with "total devastation" after the guilty verdicts.

He said: "I'm afraid words are completely inadequate to truly try to convey to your Lordship the total devastation she's experiencing.

"Currently (they) are wrestling with how to exactly explain to a child who's just turned 10 what has happened here.

"It brings home the consequences of this conduct to totally innocent people who have been caught up in it."

Ms Gallacher gave evidence in her husband's defence during the trial, and at the sentencing hearing Mr Winter put forward six character references, including one from Georgina Baillie, the granddaughter of the late actor Andrew Sachs.

Read more:
Russell Brand rape trial: How the courtroom drama unfolded
Russell Brand: The rise and fall of a TV star
Watch: Brand denies allegations in police interviews

In her statement, Ms Baillie – who was at the centre of the 2008 Sachsgate scandal involving Brand – set out how the former comedian had helped her to recover from alcohol addiction and she wrote: "I still choose to support him as a person I know him to be."

Brand, who has already spent four nights in custody at HMP Wandsworth, is expected to serve two-thirds of his prison sentence before being released on licence.

He will be on the sex offender's register for life.