LAHORE MIRROR (Reuters) — Comedian Russell Brand, once one of Britain’s most high-profile broadcasters and a Hollywood star, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years on Monday after he was convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others around two decades ago.
Brand – the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry who in recent years moved away from the mainstream – was found guilty on Thursday of committing the offences between 2004 and 2009.
He had denied the charges.
The Misinformation Monitor newsletter rounds up international misinformation narratives, with a “Real or Fake?” quiz in every edition. Sign up here.
The 51-year-old stood in the dock at London’s Southwark Crown Court as Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced him to 10 years and six months in prison. Brand will serve two-thirds of the sentence in custody before being released on licence.
The judge said Brand was a sexual predator who believed “fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live”.
“Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent,” Bennathan said.
Brand mouthed “I love you” to his wife before he was led down to the cells.
POLICE PRAISE VICTIMS’ COURAGE
Speaking outside court, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from London’s Metropolitan Police paid tribute to Brand’s victims, saying, “they have shown immense bravery, dignity and resilience”.
“Their courage in coming forward has not only led to this outcome but may also give confidence to others who have suffered sexual violence to seek help and report what happened to them,” he added.
The Met has said Brand was under investigation for two other alleged rapes, one involving a then-16-year-old girl, and the force’s chief Mark Rowley said on Friday that he “wouldn’t be surprised if many more came forward”.
Brand, who rose to fame as a television presenter known for his loquacious manner and flamboyant appearance and starred in films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Get Him to the Greek” and “Arthur”, had denied ever having non-consensual sex.
