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Russell Brand faces a “signficant” prison term when he is sentenced later today after being convicted of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women.
The former comedian, now 51, spent the weekend in a cell after he was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of raping a woman in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009.
His victims told the court he had forced them into sexual activity, sometimes within seconds of them first meeting, using his immense fame to pursue a goal of sex with 5,000 women.
Mr Justice Bennathan will pass sentence today, after telling the shamed star to expect a “significant” jail term following the jury’s verdict last week.
In the wake of Brand’s convictions, the Metropolitan Police revealed that more allegations against the former TV and radio host are being investigated.
On Sunday, culture secretary Lisa Nandy suggested Brand’s crimes were unlikely to be an isolated incident within the entertainment industry. She told Sky News: “I would wager that this is probably happening today, and I don’t think that the industry is doing enough to tackle it.”
Watch: Russell Brand’s ex who was victim of the ‘Sachsgate’ scandal says comedian ‘needs to tell the truth’
Brand 'banned from BBC's LA office for exposing himself to a woman'
Russell Brand was reportedly banned from the BBC’s LA office in 2019 after exposing himself to a woman, according to reports.
The 51-year-old, who will be sentenced later today after being convicted of sexual offences last week, allegedly followed the women , known by the pseudonym “Olivia” into the toilets.
He then allegedly flahed his penis at her in June 2008, as reported by The Times.
Brand later laughed about the incident while recording The Russell Brand Show for Radio 2.
From Katy Perry to drug addiction: What the Russell Brand rape trial jury didn’t hear
Katy Perry was left out of the prosecution case against Russell Brand, while jurors were also blocked from hearing details of his addictions to alcohol and drugs.
Prosecutors wanted to mention Perry, Brand’s ex-wife, when opening the Southwark Crown Court case against the comedian and podcaster over allegations of rape and sexual assault during 10 years of his showbusiness career.
But the Grammy-nominated singer was removed from lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC’s speech after submissions made by Brand’s legal team.
Court will hear impact statements from Brand's victims
Today, the judge is expected to hear impact statements from Brand’s victims and legal submissions from the lawyers before passing sentence.
A four-week trial heard how Brand preyed on women that he encountered on his way to becoming one of Britain’s best-known comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood actor who was briefly married to singer Katy Perry.
He claimed to have only ever had consensual sex during a “promiscuous” life, which he insisted had been packed with “idiocy” but never illegal.
But his victims told a different story, of a famous and powerful man who kissed and groped women within seconds of meeting them, pursued his sexual ambitions relentlessly, and laughed at and gaslit women after the attacks.
Friends and former colleagues of Brand also came forward to give evidence of his ambition to sleep with 5,000 women, an “insane” sexual appetite, and his bad behaviour towards women being “normalised” as he became increasingly famous.
Brand was convicted by the jury of raping a 21-year-old fan in 2009, after meeting her following one of his stand-up shows at the Hammersmith Apollo.
Watch: Vanessa Feltz reveals disturbing sexual remark Russell Brand made about her and her daughters
Abuse ‘still happening today’ in entertainment industry, says Nandy
Crimes like the ones committed by Russell Brand are “probably happening today” in the entertainment industry, the culture secretary Lisa Nandy warned on Sunday.
She also told organisations the government would take action to force them if they did not sign up to protection for whistleblowers.
Ms Nandy told Sky News: “Hands on heart, I don't think we can say that this couldn't happen today. In fact, I would wager that this is probably happening today.
She added: “And I don't think that the industry is doing enough to tackle it. I would urge every organisation that hasn't already signed up to CISA, the industry body that protects whistleblowers, to do so.
Burnham to look at changing rape trials to encourage more women to come forward
Andy Burnham said on Saturday he would look at changing rape trials to encourage more women to come forward and “get the conviction rate up” following the conviction of Russell Brand.
What time does sentencing begin
Russell Brand’s sentencing will begin at 10:30am on Monday at Southwark Crown Court.
