Russell Brand, 51, has been remanded in custody. His fate will be decided on Monday, but the judge has already warned that he faces a substantial prison sentence. He could be facing life behind bars.
Six women accused him of rape and sexual assaults when he was at the height of his fame. He was then a well-known stand-up comedian and TV presenter.
Briefly married to American pop star Katy Perry, he also appeared in several Hollywood films.
During the trial, it emerged that Brand was accused of raping two more women. He could therefore face further criminal proceedings.
He showed no emotion when the court handed down its verdict after a trial that lasted nearly four weeks.
Millions of Followers on Social Media
“It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay,” he told his lawyers as he was led from the defendant’s box to be remanded. He was acquitted of two rapes and a charge of attempted indecency.
Brand, who commands millions of followers on social media, was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan he had met at one of his stand-up shows in 2009.
He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a MTV employee at a bar party in 2004, of forcibly kissing and touching a woman in 2009, and of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 employee in 2009.
The accusers spoke out after a 2023 documentary aired containing further allegations against the former host.
“Brand used his influence, his status and his fame to exploit women and commit sexual offences against them,” said a London police official, Andy Furphy.
«Sexual Predator
“I hope this conviction sends a clear message: no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they are,” he added, before praising the “extraordinary courage, resilience and determination” shown by the women who testified.
At the start of the trial, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones described Russell Brand as a “sexual predator.” “He was ruthless, calculating and manipulative,” she said. He allegedly used women to satisfy his “enormous sexual appetite.”
Brand denied the charges against him. He testified that he had once led a highly active sexual life with numerous partners, but that all his relationships were consensual.
The former comedian has recently reinvented himself as a conservative guru, driven by Christian faith and regularly voicing conspiracy theories on social media.
In his podcast, which he continued recording during the trial, he said he felt the “presence of God” in the courtroom. On several occasions, he told reporters outside the court that he felt “blessed.” Brand, who remarried in 2017, is the father of three and has settled in Florida.
