Russell Brand jailed for 10 and a half years as victim says it ‘feels like it will never end’

The women Russell Brand attacked told a London court how his crimes still follow them almost two decades on, from sleepless nights to feeling sick at the sight of him on TV. As of Monday November 9, the former comedian and Hollywood actor has been jailed for 10 years and six months.

Brand’s sentence starts straight away

Brand, 51, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court by Mr Justice Bennathan, who ordered the sentence to begin immediately. It comes four days after a jury of eight men and four women found him guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009.

He’d already spent the weekend behind bars, as the judge had refused him bail on Thursday November 5 over fears he’d flee rather than return to court. Brand, who’d made his home in Florida in recent years, said only ‘yes My Lord’ as he was remanded.

The women told the court how they still live with it

The woman he raped in 2009, a 21-year-old fan he’d met after his stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo, said in a statement read to the court: “It’s something I carry with me every day, and it often feels like it will never end.” She said she’s living with trauma and struggles to sleep and eat.

Another woman spoke from behind a curtain to protect her identity. She told the court the assault left her in shock and turmoil, feeling like “damaged goods”, and added: “There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he can get away with anything.”

A third, a radio station worker he assaulted in 2005, said Brand “has managed to move on and even forget”, while hearing his voice or seeing his face still makes her jump. Brand stared straight ahead and showed no emotion as the women’s words were heard. 

How the judge described what Brand did

Passing sentence, the judge said Brand had lied about grabbing one woman’s breasts, and that she felt sick and traumatised whenever she saw him on television. He described another assault as “very rough” and said Brand had “humiliated” the woman involved.

The judge said the rape victim was left distraught and afraid she’d contracted HIV. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones had earlier called Brand a “sexual predator” who treated women as a “disposable commodity”.

Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, argued his client is now a “fundamentally different person” and that the offences should be seen as isolated incidents rather than a pattern. The judge wasn’t swayed by the years that had passed though, telling the court: “Saying ‘he got away with it for 17 years’ is not necessarily particularly mitigating.”

How long Brand is likely to spend in prison

The maximum sentence for rape in the UK is life. Brand’s 10 and a half years won’t all be spent in a cell, though people convicted of rape haven’t benefited from the early-release changes brought in for other prisoners.

Under the rules for serious sexual offences, prisoners given a standard fixed-term sentence of this length usually serve two-thirds before they’re released on licence (supervised release, where they can be recalled to prison). That would mean roughly seven years behind bars, with the rest served in the community under strict conditions.

His wife, Laura, with whom he has three children, was in court for most of the trial. His barrister said she’d been left “totally devastated” by the verdicts, while a small group of supporters gathered outside with a banner reading ‘Russell is the truth’.

Police say more women may come forward

Brand’s legal troubles aren’t over either. The Metropolitan Police said files on two more women, part of a separate, ongoing rape investigation, have now been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers are prepared for “many, many more” women to come forward, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham called Brand’s crimes “horrific”. 

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who led the investigation, said: “Brand used his influence, status, and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women.” He praised the courage of the women who gave evidence and added: “I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.” 

So while Brand begins his sentence, it’s now down to the CPS to decide whether he’ll face a second trial, with the Met making clear it’s ready to hear from any other women who come forward.