Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for rape and sexual assault

Disgraced actor Russell Brand was sentenced Monday to 10 and a half years in prison for raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting three others.

The disgraced British television personality and Hollywood actor was convicted last week for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, but acquitted of two other counts of rape and attempted indecent assault.

A jury of eight men and four women at Southwark Crown Court, south London, found Brand guilty of groping a woman’s breasts in a London bar in 2004, sexually assaulting a woman at a London radio station in 2004 and 2005 and raping a woman at his west London home in 2009.

The judge, Joel Bennathan, called Brand a “sexual predator” in his sentencing remarks, saying he displayed a “staggering arrogance” and believed “fame meant you could act however you wanted, whenever you wanted.”

For the rape, he was sentenced to nine years in prison, plus 18 months for the sexual assaults. Brand is expected to serve at least seven years in prison, with the remainder of his sentence subject to heavy restrictions, such as wearing a tag.

Six women made allegations against him between 1999 and 2009.

Before sentencing Monday, victim impact statements from the women involved in Brand’s crimes were read in court, three by the prosecutor and one by one from the women, which was hidden from everyone except the judge by a screen.

“I have been in shock and turmoil for years. I was extremely upset and traumatized. I had no respect for myself,” the woman said reading her statement, according to CBS News’ sister network, the BBC.

“I thought I was damaged goods, I was afraid of giving off signals that could be misinterpreted.”

Another statement, read by the prosecutor, called Brand “a sexual predator who has no remorse…I just hope he is not allowed to harm other women again.”

A third statement, from the woman Brand was convicted of raping in 2009, said she “had difficulty sleeping and eating” and “dealing with my emotions” after the attack.

Before the sentence was announced, Brand’s lawyer, Ian Winter KC, said his client was a “fundamentally different person” today compared to the time of the rape 17 years ago. He called the rape a “total and momentary failure to respect (the woman’s) consent.”

Brand was refused bail following his conviction and remained in custody ahead of Monday’s sentencing, with the London judge rejecting his request for bail to spend time with his wife and children ahead of Monday’s hearing.

“I of course regret the hardship caused to the children,” Judge Bennathan said of his decision on Thursday, according to the BBC. “But the difficulties were caused by serious criminal offenses committed by their father.”

Following last week’s verdicts, the BBC reported that police were investigating Brand over further rape allegations made by two women, one of whom was 16 at the time of the alleged incident. The head of London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday he “would not be surprised if many more women came forward”.

When the guilty verdict was read, Brand closed his eyes. When he was refused bail, he said: “I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine” before being taken away.

His lawyers argued that the victims’ cases were weakened by the fact that they did not go to police until years after the clashes.

Brand, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges, suggested the allegations were part of a coordinated attack on his character because of his prominence as an online wellness influencer and political commentator.

He admitted to leading a promiscuous lifestyle and being obsessed with sex when I was a young manbut claimed he never forced anyone to do anything against their will.

During the trial, a prosecutor described Brand as a ruthless and manipulative sexual predator.