London Court Sentences Russell Brand: 10.5 Years for Sexual Offenses

Russell Brand, the 51-year-old British actor and comedian, received a prison sentence of 10 years and six months on Monday. A judge at the Southwark Crown Court in London handed down the verdict for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The offenses involved four different women and occurred between 2004 and 2009.

Judge Joel Bennathan presided over the sentencing following a guilty verdict delivered the previous Thursday. The judge described Brand as a sexual predator during the proceedings. He also cited the determination and courage of the victims, noting the trauma they have endured while dealing with the crimes.

The 10-year portion of the sentence corresponds specifically to the rape of a woman in 2009. The judge acknowledged Brand’s recent work helping people with various addictions. He also considered the difficulties Brand faces as a father of three children when determining the final term.

Upon hearing the sentence, Brand, who was wearing a crucifix necklace, looked at his wife, Laura Gallacher. He told her, "I love you," before being led to the internal court cells. He will serve a minimum of seven years before becoming eligible for parole.

The jury found Brand guilty of anal rape in 2009 of a 21-year-old fan they met after a show at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. He was also found guilty of kissing and groping a Capital Radio employee in a hallway in 2005. Additionally, the jury convicted him for touching the breasts of an MTV employee at a bar in Soho in 2004 and for sexually assaulting a Channel 4 employee during a recording session in 2009.

The jury acquitted Brand on three other charges. They found him not guilty of two additional rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. The jurors determined that the evidence for those specific charges was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.