Russell Brand found guilty of r@pe and three counts of s3xual ass@ult, faces lengthy jail sentence

British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual ass@ult, with a judge warning that he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday by a jury at London's Southwark Crown Court, according to the BBC. Brand was acquitted of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent ass@ult.

“You’ve been convicted of a number of offences, including rape. The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term,” the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, told Brand, adding that he was considering remanding him into custody.

The 51-year-old, who was once an in-demand Hollywood actor, had been accused by six women of sexual offences allegedly committed between 1999 and 2009. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual ass@ult and one count of indecent ass@ult.

During the three-week trial, the women gave evidence about their encounters with Brand while he watched from inside the courtroom. Their identities were withheld in accordance with UK laws protecting victims of sexual offences.

British prosecutors described Brand as a “sexual predator” who was “ruthless” in his pursuit of women. They argued that he had an “indiscriminate and voracious” desire for sex and viewed women as “simply a means to an end”.

In her closing statement, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones argued that the women had nothing to gain from coming forward and had not sought publicity.

Brand's lawyer, Ian Winter, maintained that although his client might have treated the women poorly, his behaviour did not amount to criminal conduct.

“It is not criminal to treat women unkindly before, during or after sex,” he argued.

Brand, who has previously spoken openly about his struggles with substance addiction, shifted in recent years towards online commentary, promoting Christianity, wellness trends and conspiracy theories.

In 2023, a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 published allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse involving four women. One of the women alleged that an incident occurred when she was 16.

Brand initially denied the allegations but later admitted in an interview in April this year to having had sex with a 16-year-old when he was, in his words, “an immature 30-year-old”.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, November 9.