Convicted rapist Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison after raping one woman and sexually assaulting three other women during his showbiz career.
The former comedian, born in Grays, was sentenced today at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of one count of rape and three of sexual assault.
The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan described how Brand had become a "sexual predator" as he rose to fame.
He said: "About 20 years ago Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes you were funny and charismatic.
“You had also become a sexual predator.”
Mr Bennathan continued by saying Brand's status protected him until his behaviour was first reported in 2023, upon which more women were "empowered" to come forward.
Brand was sentence to nine years' imprisonment for the one count of rape, which will be served consecutively with the three sexual assault sentences.
He will serve nine months for sexually assaulting a woman at a bar in Soho in 2004, 18 months for sexually assaulting a woman at Choice FM in London, and eight months for sexually assault while working on a Channel 4 project in 2009.
These three sentence will be served concurrently to each other.
The court heard impact statements from all four women that detailed the attacks that Brand carried out between 2004 and 2009.
The first victim, who Brand sexually assaulted at a bar in Soho in 2004, described how she was left "traumatised" by Brand after he groped her breast shortly after meeting her.
She told the court: "When it happened, I was in complete shock and turmoil for weeks trying to process what had happened to me.
“I was extremely upset and traumatised.
“It really affected how I viewed myself, I didn’t have any respect for myself and got into situations with toxic men as I didn’t have any self-worth."
The second victim, who Brand assaulted in 2005, called him a "sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life."
The woman who Brand raped in 2009 recalled how she was subject to "degradation and humiliation" after he made her shower and brush her teeth before having sex.
The pair engaged in what was initially consensual intercourse before Brand forced her into anal sex against her will.
In her statement, the woman said she often "increased" her alcohol consumption "to block out my feelings and memories."
The final victim, who Brand sexually assaulted in 2009 said there was a "culture at the time which meant I felt I had to just carry on and not talk about it anymore."
She said she felt proud of herself for speaking up about Brand's attack.
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The defence argued that Brand's actions were a consequence of his rising fame.
Defence barrister Ian Winter KC said: "This should be regarded as a man who went too far and overrode consent that had been given."
The granddaughter of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs, Georgina Bailie, also came to the defence of Brand, despite the Sachsgate prank calls where the comedian made remarks about sleeping with Bailie.
Brand showed no emotion as he was read his sentence, but told his wife, Laura Gallacher, "we'll be ok" as he was taken away by the dock officers.
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