British comedian and actor Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a criminal trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The 51-year-old was convicted on Thursday, after a jury considered allegations involving six women and offenses dating between 1999 and 2009.
The jury found him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
Brand has vehemently denied all seven charges throughout the proceedings. During his testimony, he acknowledged having a highly promiscuous past but maintained that he had never forced anyone into sexual activity against their will.
Prosecutors argued that Brand used his celebrity status and influence to take advantage of women. They described him as manipulative and said the allegations showed a pattern of sexually inappropriate and criminal behavior.
The alleged offenses took place at several locations, including a radio station, Brand’s home, and other workplaces. The women involved came forward with accounts of incidents that had occurred years earlier.
Following the guilty verdicts, Judge Joel Bennathan told Brand that the convictions would result in a significant prison term.
The judge subsequently rejected a request for bail, meaning Brand will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Nov. 9.
Brand’s legal team requested the court release him temporarily so he could spend time with his wife and three children prior to sentencing.
However, Bennathan expressed concerns about the possibility of Brand fleeing, particularly given his connections to homes in both the United Kingdom and abroad.
“I regret the hardship caused to the children, of course,” the judge said. “But the hardship has been caused by serious criminal offending by their father.”
The criminal investigation into Brand began after allegations of sexual misconduct were publicly reported in Sept. 2023 by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s “Dispatches.”
Following those reports, London’s Metropolitan Police launched an investigation and received accounts from multiple women.
“Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women,” said Andy Furphy, Detective Superintendent of London’s Metropolitan Police following Brand’s conviction. “As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement.”
Furphy added that the conviction was “a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them.”
Authorities said investigators interviewed more than 100 witnesses and reviewed hundreds of statements and documents as they built their case.
Brand was formally charged with five sexual offenses in April of 2025. He pleaded not guilty to all charges at Southwark Crown Court in May that same year and later pleaded not guilty to two additional charges in Feb. of this year.
Brand rose to fame as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s before moving into television, radio and film, becoming known for his outspoken personality and controversial public image.
He appeared in films “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek,” and later developed a substantial online following through commentary on politics, wellness, and religion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
