Russell Brand Convicted of Rape and Sexual Assault, Sentenced to 10.5 Years

In depth

A jury at the London court convicted British actor and comedian Russell Brand, 51, of raping a woman in 2009 and of three counts of sexual assault. Brand was acquitted of two more counts of rape and of one count of attempted sexual touching. The trial lasted about a month, and several women who were harmed by his actions testified.

During the trial Brand denied all the allegations and claimed that all the sexual contact he had was consensual. The prosecution described him as a man who did not listen to women when they said "no," and the prosecutor called him "manipulative and calculating." The judge made clear that a significant prison sentence awaited him.

The court sentenced Brand to 10.5 years in prison. The judge described him as a "sexual predator" and his behavior as horrifying and degrading. The testimony of his wife, Laura, helped the judge determine that Brand does not pose a future risk to women. Afterward, another complaint was published by six women describing his behavior, and the police are examining the new complaints.