Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault, judge says prison awaits Monday

Russell Brand was convicted Thursday in London of rape and sexual assault charges tied to allegations stretching back more than two decades. The jury at Southwark Crown Court — eight men and four women — deliberated for more than eight hours across two days before returning the verdict. Brand, 51, was taken into custody after the ruling.

Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand will receive a prison sentence when he returns to court Monday. Prosecutors painted a harsh picture, with one calling the British actor-comedian a ruthless, calculating and manipulative "sexual predator." The jury convicted him on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women, while acquitting him of two rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Brand denied everything and took the stand in his own defense, saying he was obsessed with sex as a young man and once lived a promiscuous life — but never forced anyone to do something against their will. His lawyers argued the alleged victims were undermined by how long they waited to contact police, which came only after a 2023 documentary aired anonymous allegations against him. Brand said the case had a devastating impact on his life and family: "My entire life has been consumed by these events, these allegations, these accusations."

He also told the court that friends and colleagues had abandoned him. His wife, Laura, sat with him through the trial and testified as a character witness, though Brand said no one with relevant evidence was willing to speak on his behalf.

Brand broke through in the early 2000s with risqué stand-up routines and very public battles with drugs and alcohol, hosting television shows and his own BBC radio program. He crossed into Hollywood with roles in films including "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek," and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry. In recent years he drifted from mainstream media, relocated to Florida and built a massive online audience with videos blending wellness, conspiracy theories and talk of his religious devotion.