On 5 November 2026 at Southwark Crown Court in London, British comedian and actor Russell Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault by a jury following a high-profile trial involving allegations dating back more than 20 years.
The 51-year-old, once one of Britain’s most prominent broadcasters and a former husband of singer Katy Perry, had denied all the charges, insisting the encounters were consensual.
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Jurors convicted him after deliberating for eight and a half hours, while acquitting him of two other rape counts and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
Judge Mr Justice Joel Bennathan told Brand he faced a custodial sentence of some length, with sentencing scheduled for Monday. Brand was remanded in custody.
The convictions relate to offences against four women between 2004 and 2009.
These included the rape of a 21-year-old fan in 2009 after they met at one of his stand-up shows, and sexual assaults on women working for MTV, Capital Radio and Channel 4.
Prosecutors described Brand as predatory, using his rising fame to exploit women.
He stood in the dock with limited emotion as the verdicts were read.
Senior Crown Prosecutor David Roberts said Brand “was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes.”
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police added that the conviction showed “no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.”
The case stemmed from a 2023 joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4, which prompted the original complaints.
The trial lasted nearly four weeks and heard evidence from six women, all of whom retain lifelong anonymity.
Further rape allegations by two other women are now under investigation.
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Brand’s fall from a career that included starring roles in films such as Get Him to the Greek and Arthur marks a sharp end to his once-celebrated public profile.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
