Comedian Russell Brand, once one of Britain's most high-profile broadcasters and a star of several Hollywood films, faces a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted by a London court on Thursday of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others.
Prosecutors said Brand, the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry, was obsessed with sex and used women to satisfy his own desires. One of the complainants told the court that he had treated her "like an animal".
Describing Brand as charming and funny when he wanted to be, but also ruthless, calculating and manipulative, prosecutors told jurors at Southwark Crown Court that the 51-year-old actor, who starred in Get Him to the Greek and Arthur, was interested only in getting what he wanted from women.
"The evidence showed Brand to be a calculated sexual predator, using his growing fame and power to create situations in which he could pursue women sexually, regardless of what they wanted," senior Crown prosecutor David Roberts said outside court.
Brand now faces a prison sentence, while police say he remains under investigation in connection with two other alleged rapes, one involving a girl who was 16 at the time.
Brand Denied the Charges
Brand, known for his loquacious manner and flamboyant appearance, denied all the charges and any allegations of non-consensual sex. He maintained that the incidents, which took place more than 20 years ago, had either been consensual or subsequently reinvented or reimagined.
Giving evidence, he acknowledged that he had devoted much of his life to "reckless philandering and idiocy", but insisted that sexual consent was fundamental to him.
However, following a four-week trial, the jury found him guilty of rape and three sexual assaults committed between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and an attempted indecent assault.
Judge Joel Bennathan refused Brand bail and said he would be sentenced on Monday. The comedian faces a lengthy prison term.
Brand is among the most prominent British celebrities to have been convicted of sexual offences in recent years. Other high-profile cases include former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, who admitted making indecent images of children two years ago, and entertainer Rolf Harris, who was convicted of sexually assaulting young girls in 2014.
The case has once again raised questions about how the entertainment industry handles complaints against prominent personalities. Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, who headed the investigation, said she expected other women to come forward.
"I think there are other victims out there and if they want to report that to us, then we'll of course take it seriously," she told Reuters.
Complainants Described His Behaviour as Maniacal
Prosecutors said Brand's offending spanned the years during which he rose from performing stand-up comedy in small venues to becoming a television presenter and Hollywood film star.
The court heard emotional and forceful testimony from six complainants, all of whom are entitled to lifelong anonymity.
None of the women knew one another. They came forward to police following a television documentary and press reports in 2023, in which other women made separate allegations against Brand. Those allegations were not part of the criminal trial.
Giving evidence, the complainants described an abrupt change in Brand's demeanour during their encounters, saying he became wide-eyed and appeared maniacal.
One woman told the court that less than a minute after meeting him at a party in a bar, he had grabbed her breasts.
Another complainant, who described herself as a fan of Brand, said she had gone to his home for consensual sex. However, she alleged that he subsequently removed a condom and raped her anally. Afterwards, he allegedly ordered her to clean up the blood on the bedsheets.
Witness Said He Wanted To Sleep With 5,000 Women
Throughout his career, Brand has spoken openly about his struggles with drug use and sex addiction, writing about both in his 2007 autobiography, My Booky Wook.
One witness, a former friend who later lived with Brand, told the court that the comedian had boasted about wanting to sleep with 5,000 women.
Brand's former personal assistant, Helen Berger, who worked for him between 2006 and 2007, described him as having "an insane sexual appetite".
"He never seemed happy after sex, more so depressed," she said in a witness statement.
Police Say Conviction Sends Clear Message
Brand first rose to prominence in Britain as the presenter of a spin-off programme to Big Brother on Channel 4.
During the 2000s, he became a regular presence on television and radio before moving into Hollywood, where he starred in several films. In 2010, he married Perry, a relationship that he told the court brought him "staggering fame". The marriage ended after 14 months.
Nelson said Perry had not been approached as a potential witness, but added that she could contact police if she had any relevant information.
In subsequent years, Brand moved away from mainstream television and film work, building a substantial social media following as an anti-establishment commentator. His online content increasingly focused on politics, spirituality and religion. He was baptised as a Christian in 2024, after the allegations against him first became public.
"I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be," Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police said.
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