LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand was convicted Thursday of rape and sexual assault on allegations dating back more than 20 years.
Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand faced a “significant” prison sentence when he is sentenced on Monday. He had been released on bail but was taken into custody.
A prosecutor said the British actor-comedian was a ruthless, calculating and manipulative “sexual predator”.
LEARN MORE: Russell Brand denies all accusations as he testifies at his rape and sexual assault trial
Brand, 51, denied the accusations and testified that he was obsessed with sex as a young man and once led a promiscuous life, but never forced anyone to do anything against their will.
He was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. He was acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of London’s Metropolitan Police said the conviction was “a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them”.
“Brand used his influence, status and fame to sexually exploit and offend women,” he said. “As his profile grew, so did his sense of entitlement.”
The jury of eight men and four women at Southwark Crown Court deliberated for more than eight hours over two days.
Known for his risky stand-up shows and his battles with drugs and alcohol, Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s hosting television programs and his own radio show on the BBC. He appeared in Hollywood films including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek” and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry.
In recent years, he moved away from mainstream media, moved to Florida and built a large online following with videos mixing wellness, conspiracy theories and discussions of his religious devotion.
Brand said the criminal case had a devastating impact on his life and family.
“My entire life has been consumed by these events, these allegations, these accusations,” he said.
Brand’s lawyers argued that the alleged victims were weakened by the fact that they did not come forward to police until years after the alleged assaults and after the release of a 2023 documentary containing anonymous allegations against Brand.
Brand testified that his friends and colleagues abandoned him.
His wife, Laura, who accompanied him to court, testified as a character witness in his defense, but no one with relevant evidence was willing to testify on his behalf, Brand said.
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