Russell Brand sentenced to ten years and six months for rape and sexual assault

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Brand told his wife ‘we’ll be OK’ as he was taken down (PA) independent.co.uk

Brand will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in prison (PA Wire) PA Wire

Laura Brand, 39, leaving Southwark Crown Court (Reuters) Reuters

Brand’s father, Ron, suggested his son was the real victim (PA) independent.co.uk

A prison van, thought to contain Brand, left the court this afternoon (Getty) Getty

Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PA theguardian.com

Musk reposts claim 'UK went after Brand but not migrant rape gangs' dailymail.com

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Russell Brand has been sentenced to ten years and six months for raping a fan and sexually assaulting three women, offences committed at the height of his fame between 2004 and 2009. Mr Justice Bennathan told Southwark Crown Court that the 51-year-old will serve at least two-thirds of the sentence in prison.

The rape offence carries nine years; the three sexual assaults drew sentences of nine months, 18 months and eight months. Prosecutors had called for a category one penalty, a range of ten to fifteen years. The judge said Brand had shown a "casual, arrogant disregard for any woman's right to say no," and that his celebrity status had protected him until a 2023 investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches, The Times and The Sunday Times "empowered" other women to come forward. "Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and demand justice in the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Mr Brand, act without their consent," the judge said.

The jury that convicted Brand after a four-week trial also acquitted him of orally raping one of his accusers in a Soho bar toilet in 2004 — while finding him guilty of groping her breasts within minutes of meeting her that same night. That woman told the court she had felt like "damaged goods," had been sickened watching Brand celebrated across the media for behaviour treated "like it was all a joke," and now fears death threats from his "manic supporters" if her name becomes public. "Even more terrifying was seeing my character be torn apart on social media by people believing all of us women were making it up," she said from behind a screen.

Another victim, a 21-year-old fan whom Brand anally raped at his Hampstead townhouse in 2009, said in a statement read by prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC: "His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless. I did not have the confidence to challenge someone who appeared so powerful, rich and influential."

Outside court, Brand's father Ron suggested his son was the real victim and said it was "possible" the jury was corrupt. In the run-up to sentencing, Elon Musk reposted material contrasting the prosecution of Brand with the handling of migrant rape gangs in Britain, the Daily Mail reported.

Brand showed no emotion as the sentence was passed. As dock officers led him downstairs, he turned to his wife Laura in the public gallery and said: "We'll be OK."