Russell Brand, the 51-year-old British comedian, actor and online broadcaster, has been convicted of r*pe and s*xual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London. A jury of eight men and four women delivered the verdicts on Thursday, 5 November 2026, after deliberating for eight hours and thirty minutes. Brand was found guilty of one count of r*pe and three counts of s*xual assault. He was cleared of two other r*pe counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. The judge, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan, immediately remanded Brand into custody and told him he faces a “significant custodial term.” Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, 9 November at the same court.
Trigger warning: This article discusses sxual assault and rpe. Reader discretion is advised.
What the Jury Decided
The jury returned a mix of guilty and not guilty verdicts across seven charges. The split verdicts were read out in a packed courtroom at Southwark Crown Court.
- Count 1: R*pe — NOT GUILTY
- Count 2a: Attempted indecent assault — NOT GUILTY
- Count 3: S*xual assault — GUILTY
- Count 4: R*pe — NOT GUILTY
- Count 5: S*xual assault — GUILTY
- Count 6: R*pe — GUILTY
- Count 7: S*xual assault — GUILTY
The guilty verdicts related to four women. The charges spanned a decade of Brand’s showbusiness career, from 1999 to 2009, when he rose from MTV presenter to Hollywood actor and tabloid fixture.
The Charges and the Years They Covered
Brand faced seven charges involving six women. The allegations covered a period when Brand was becoming one of Britain’s most recognisable entertainers. Prosecutors said the offences took place in locations including a hotel room, a bar toilet, his luxury London townhouse, a radio station and the set of a DVD recording.
The Metropolitan Police said Brand’s offending occurred between 2004 and 2009 and involved one rpe and three sxual assaults against four women. The force confirmed that detectives gathered evidence from more than 100 witnesses, took more than 400 witness statements and reviewed over 1,400 documents during the investigation.
Brand had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He told the jury that some incidents had been consensual and others had been “reimagined” or “unfavourably reframed” after allegations against him were published in 2023.
Judge’s Warning: ‘Significant Custodial Time’
Mr Justice Bennathan did not hide the seriousness of the verdicts. After the jury foreman read out the decisions, the judge addressed Brand directly.
“You’ve been convicted of a number of offences including r*pe. The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term. My current view is that I therefore have to remand you into custody.”
The judge also said the case had been “very well prepared” and confirmed the sentencing hearing would take place on Monday. Brand was led away by dock officers to the cells. Under British sentencing guidelines, the maximum penalty for r*pe is life imprisonment, though typical prison terms range from four to 19 years.
Prosecutor’s Words: ‘Sexual Predator’
From the opening day of the trial, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC painted a stark picture of Brand’s behaviour. She described him as a “ruthless, calculated and manipulative” s*xual predator who used his fame and influence to target women.
“His strong desire for some form of s*xual contact was indiscriminate and voracious.”
Karmy-Jones told the court that Brand treated women as a “disposable commodity” and a “means to an end.” She said the women described a similar pattern: compliments, flattery and flirting, followed by a sudden “personality change.”
“His eyes changed, he snapped, from charming to frightening to nasty.”
The prosecution also said Brand told police in 2023 that he had “never engaged in non-consensual s*xual activity.” The jury heard that Brand’s account changed as the case approached trial, prompting prosecutors to describe his recollection as “selective memory.”
Defence’s Argument and Brand’s Testimony
Brand’s defence barrister, Ian Winter KC, urged the jury to find him not guilty. Winter rejected the prosecution’s characterisation of Brand.
“There was no evidence he is some sort of psychopath who r*pes people and thinks it’s normal.”
Winter argued that Brand was respectful when women said no and that being “rude or acting like a crazy idiot” during s*x is not a crime if there is consent. In his closing speech, the barrister questioned why the accusers had not screamed, kicked out or slapped Brand during the alleged attacks.
“Not one of them resisted or screamed or even tried to leave.”
Brand took the witness stand on 28 October. He told the jury the allegations had been “deeply traumatic” and had a “devastating” impact on him. He said he believes s*xual consent is “fundamental.” Addressing the wider fallout from the case, Brand said:
“My entire life has been consumed by these events, these allegations, these accusations.”
Laura Brand in Court as Verdicts Read
Brand’s wife, Laura Brand (née Gallacher), was in the public gallery throughout the trial. She sat holding hands with a woman beside her as the verdicts were delivered. Reports from the courtroom said she looked tearful and shell-shocked, covering her mouth in shock.
Shortly before the jury returned, Brand stood at the door of the dock, looked at his wife and said:
“Laura, I love you.”
Laura Brand had testified as a character witness during the trial. She confirmed that her husband had been baptised in April 2024, after the allegations against him were first published.
Police Praise Victims’ Courage
The Metropolitan Police launched a dedicated investigation after allegations involving Brand were reported by Channel 4’s Dispatches, The Times and The Sunday Times in September 2023. Detectives anticipated that potential victims might come forward and set up a specialist team.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Met praised the women who reported Brand.
“Today’s verdict is first and foremost a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them. Despite intense media and public scrutiny, they relived deeply personal and traumatic experiences and placed their trust in us. Without their bravery, this outcome would not have been possible.”
Furphy added:
“Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and s*xually offend against women. As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.”
The Met said the non-recent nature of the reports presented challenges. There was no CCTV or forensic evidence, and digital enquiries were limited by the passage of time. Detectives instead pieced together timelines, traced historical floor plans and photographs of locations, and reviewed hundreds of hours of Brand’s stand-up performances, TV appearances, interviews and podcasts, as well as his books.
How the Case Began: 2023 Investigation
The criminal case followed a joint investigation published in September 2023 by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches. That investigation featured four women who accused Brand of sxual assault, including one accusation of rpe. The London trial did not include any of the women from that 2023 media investigation, but some of the trial accusers told the court they had come forward after seeing the coverage.
Brand denied the allegations at the time and continued to build a large following on YouTube and Rumble, where he posted conspiracy-themed content. YouTube suspended advertising on his channel in 2023, but Brand retained access to other revenue streams on rival platforms.
Sentencing Set for Monday
Brand will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing on Monday, 9 November at Southwark Crown Court. The judge has already indicated that a prison sentence is certain. The length of that sentence will be decided at the hearing.
Brand’s legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the verdicts. The Metropolitan Police said officers had questioned Brand about two further accusations of r*pe and submitted files to prosecutors. A civil action in the United States linked to the allegations is also part of the wider legal picture.
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The convictions mark a sharp turn for a performer who once moved between comedy, Hollywood films and mainstream television. Brand now awaits a sentencing hearing that will determine how long he spends behind bars.
Also Read: Russell Brand is Not a ‘Psychopath Who Rapes People, Then Thinks it’s Normal’: Defense Tells Jury as Trial Nears End
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