Russell Brand Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sexual Offenses
The actor will serve a minimum of seven years before becoming eligible for parole.
By Jack Weber ·
Russell Brand, the 51-year-old British actor and comedian, received a prison sentence of 10 years and six months on Monday. A London court handed down the verdict for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The offenses occurred between 2004 and 2009 and involved four different women.
Judge Joel Bennathan presided over the sentencing at the Southwark Crown Court in southern London. He issued the sentence following Brand's guilty verdict on all four charges, which was delivered the previous Thursday. Bennathan described the comedian as a sexual predator. The judge also acknowledged the determination and courage of the victims, noting the trauma they endured.
The 10-year portion of the sentence applies specifically to a rape committed in 2009. During that incident, Brand allegedly raped a 21-year-old fan. The pair had met after a show at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. The other three sexual assault charges involve incidents from 2004 and 2005. One victim was a Capital Radio employee kissed and groped in a corridor in 2005. Another was an MTV worker touched at a Soho bar party in 2004. A third was a Channel 4 employee assaulted during a recording in 2009 after she requested a massage.
Brand wore a crucifix around his neck during the sentencing. He looked at his wife, Laura Gallacher, with whom he has three children, and told her, "I love you." Court officials then escorted him to the internal holding cells. He will be transferred to a prison facility to serve his time. He must complete at least seven years of the sentence before he can apply for parole.
The judge considered several mitigating factors when setting the term. Bennathan recognized Brand's recent work assisting people with various addictions. The magistrate also took into account the family difficulties Brand faces as a father of three. The jury previously acquitted Brand of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault. The jurors determined those specific counts were not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Brand stands as a prominent figure in British entertainment. His conviction marks a major legal outcome for the comedian. The sentencing concludes the trial phase of the case. He will now begin serving his custodial term in a UK prison.
