Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults against four women, with a London judge warning he faces a significant prison sentence.
The 51-year-old comedian and actor was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 5 November 2026, after a four-week trial. The offences took place between 2004 and 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed.
The jury acquitted Brand of two other rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault. He had denied all seven charges, maintaining that sexual encounters had been consensual and disputing the women’s accounts.
Judge Refuses Bail Ahead Of Sentencing
Mr Justice Joel Bennathan remanded Brand in custody until sentencing on Monday, 9 November. No prison term has yet been imposed.
“The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term,” the judge told him, according to Sky News’ court coverage.
Defence barrister Ian Winter KC asked for Brand to remain on bail over the weekend so he could put his affairs in order and say goodbye to his three children. Bennathan rejected the application, citing the risk that Brand could flee and his access to homes in Britain and abroad.
As reported by the Associated Press, the judge said:
“I regret the hardship caused to the children, of course. But the hardship has been caused by serious criminal offending by their father.”
Prison Van Leaves Court
Brand’s wife, Laura Brand, also known as Laura Gallacher, was in court for the verdicts. The ABC reported that she was in tears as her husband was taken into custody.
What Were The Four Offences?
The rape conviction concerned a woman Brand met after a stand-up show at London’s Hammersmith Apollo in 2009. During a later visit to his Hampstead home, an initially consensual encounter became a rape. She told the court he continued despite her telling him to stop.
One sexual assault conviction related to a party at a Soho bar in 2004, where Brand grabbed a woman’s breasts. The jury acquitted him of a separate allegation that he raped the same woman in a toilet afterwards.
He was also convicted of sexually assaulting a woman at radio station Choice FM in 2004 or 2005. She described being pinned against a wall, kissed and groped while at work.
The third sexual assault involved a woman working on a Channel 4 project in 2009. She told jurors she had been pressured to massage Brand and that he pushed his head into her lap, placing his face against her groin.
Police Investigation Began In 2023
The Metropolitan Police said its investigation began after allegations were reported by Channel 4’s Dispatches, The Times and The Sunday Times in September 2023. Women subsequently contacted investigators independently of one another.
Detectives spoke to more than 100 witnesses, took over 400 statements and reviewed more than 1,400 documents. Police said the time elapsed meant there was no CCTV or forensic evidence available, so investigators used witness accounts, historical records and detailed timelines to build the case.
Police are also investigating two further rape allegations, with files submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service. The ABC reported that no charges have been laid in those matters.
Brand is due back at Southwark Crown Court for sentencing on Monday, 9 November.
Watch Footage From Outside Court
Police And CPS Statement
Laura Gallacher Leaves Court
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