British comedian and actor Russell Brand faces a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others following a four-week trial in London.
The 51-year-old, who was once among Britain’s most recognisable entertainers and starred in Hollywood films including Get Him to the Greek and Arthur, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.
The offences took place between 2004 and 2009, during the period when Brand was rising from a stand-up comedian performing at small venues to a prominent television presenter and film star.
Prosecutors described him as a calculated sexual predator who allegedly used his growing fame and influence to pursue women regardless of whether they consented.
Senior Crown prosecutor David Roberts said Brand had exploited his celebrity status to create opportunities to sexually pursue women.
One of the victims told the court that he had treated her “like an animal”.
Brand denied all the charges, maintaining that he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. He argued that the encounters, which happened more than two decades ago, were consensual or had been misrepresented.
During his testimony, he admitted spending much of his life engaging in what he described as “reckless philandering and idiocy”, but insisted that sexual consent was fundamental.
After four weeks of proceedings, the jury found him guilty of rape and three sexual assaults. However, he was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Judge Joel Bennathan refused Brand bail and said he would be sentenced on Monday, adding that he faced a lengthy prison term.
The court heard emotional testimony from all six complainants, who are legally entitled to lifelong anonymity.
Although the women did not know one another, they separately approached police following a 2023 television documentary and media reports in which other women made allegations against Brand. Those earlier complainants were not involved in the criminal trial.
One woman told the court that Brand grabbed her breasts less than a minute after meeting her at a party in a bar.
Another woman, who described herself as a fan, said she had visited his home for consensual sex before he allegedly removed a condom and raped her anally. She further claimed that he ordered her to clean up the bloodied bedsheets afterwards.
The court also heard accounts from people who had known or worked with Brand during his rise to fame.
A former friend, who later lived with him, testified that Brand had once boasted about wanting to sleep with 5,000 women.
His former personal assistant, Helen Berger, who worked for him between 2006 and 2007, described his sexual appetite as “insane”.
In a witness statement, she said he never appeared happy after having sex and would instead seem depressed.
Brand had previously spoken openly about his struggles with drug use and sex addiction in his 2007 autobiography, My Booky Wook.
He first became widely known in Britain through a spin-off programme linked to Big Brother on Channel 4 before becoming a regular presence on television and radio throughout the 2000s.
In 2010, he married American pop star Katy Perry, a relationship he told the court brought him “staggering fame”. Their marriage ended after 14 months.
Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, who led the investigation, said she believed there could be other victims and encouraged anyone with information to contact police.
She also clarified that Perry had not been approached as a potential witness, although she could contact investigators if she had relevant information.
Brand later moved away from mainstream television and film, building a substantial social media following through commentary on politics, spirituality and religion. He was baptised as a Christian in 2024, after allegations against him first became public.
Police said the conviction demonstrated that celebrities were not above the law.
“I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be,” said Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police.
Brand also remains under investigation over two other alleged rapes, including one involving a girl who was 16 at the time.
