British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
The sentence was handed down on Monday, November 9, 2026, at Southwark Crown Court in London by Judge Joel Bennathan.
The 51-year-old was found guilty last Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others in incidents that occurred between 2004 and 2009.
During sentencing, Judge Bennathan criticised Brand’s conduct, describing it as a “casual, arrogant disregard” for women’s right to refuse sex.
The convictions followed a four-week trial in which six women testified about allegations of sexual offences involving the former television and radio presenter.
Brand was convicted of raping a woman he had met at one of his comedy shows in 2009. He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting three other women in separate incidents involving a London bar, a radio station and an advertising recording.
However, the jury acquitted him of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Brand had denied all the charges, maintaining that his sexual encounters were consensual and describing the allegations as invented or reimagined.
Prosecutors argued that he had used his fame and influence to pursue women and commit the offences, while the victims described the lasting emotional and psychological impact of their experiences.
The case followed investigations published by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches in 2023, which prompted a police inquiry.
Following the convictions, London’s Metropolitan Police said investigations into allegations made by two additional women were ongoing.
Brand rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a comedian, television presenter and radio host before appearing in Hollywood films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
He later moved away from mainstream entertainment and built a substantial online following through commentary on politics, wellness, conspiracy theories and religion.
