LONDON: Russell Brand was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison on Monday, November 9, for raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others during a period when his comedy career built around boasts of erotic exploits was taking off.
Judge Joel Bennathan told Brand that he showed a “casual and arrogant disregard” for women.
“About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous,” Bennathan said. “You were clever -- and in many people's eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.”
Brand showed little emotion during the hearing and turned to mouth the words “we'll be OK” to his wife after he stood up and was led away by court officers.
The 51-year-old actor-comedian known for outrageous stand-up routines and behaviour on television and radio broadcasts, along with drug and alcohol battles had asserted he was innocent and all his encounters were consensual.
A jury of eight men and four women found him guilty of attacking four of six accusers on allegations dating back to 2004. He was cleared of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones said Brand abused the influence and power that came with his fame.
“He used it(the fame) to facilitate access to women without which the offending could not have taken place. It also fed his own view that he could commit such offences with impunity," Karmy-Jones said.
His fans stood outside the court in a wave of support.
The accusers came forward following a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4 that aired accounts from women who said they had been sexually abused and degraded by Brand.
One of the women he was convicted of abusing spoke in court about the impact of the crime and the others provided statements read by the prosecutor.
(with inputs from AP)