In an exclusive episode of the Daily Mail's The Trial podcast, brought to you by The Crime Desk, award-winning crime reporters Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull sit down with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, of the Met's Complex Sexual Offences Unit.
DI Nelson managed the police team that investigated comedian turned wellness guru Russell Brand, 51, who was today found guilty of raping a woman, along with a string of sexual assaults spanning a decade.
After praising the 'six incredible women' whose evidence helped convict Brand, DI Nelson revealed why the women who accused him in the 2023 Channel 4 documentary and Times investigation were never part of the case.
The documentary's release sparked the Met's investigation, prompting a number of women to come forward and help build the police case against the celebrity.
Allegations made in the documentary did not form part of the trial, and the jury was told to disregard them when reaching its verdicts.
'We have got to respect a victim's choice to report to the police,' DI Nelson explained.
In an exclusive episode of The Trial podcast, Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull sit down with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson (pictured), of the Met's Complex Sexual Offences Unit
Russell Brand, 51, was today found guilty of raping a woman, along with a string of sexual assaults spanning a decade
'When those women went to the documentary, they spoke under anonymity and we have got to respect that.
'What we did do in this circumstance is write to the production company to say that we're the police, and if they did want to make a report, these are their options, and we'll signpost to support services.
'It's their choice to do that and we respect that. So, that's the reason.'
One of the incidents in the documentary also allegedly took place in the US, creating a further obstacle.
'There's a lady that speaks in America, when he was in America. So we've got jurisdiction issues around some of that as well,' DI Nelson said.
'If we were to get an allegation linked to America or any other country, then we would refer it to the relevant authorities.'
The detective believes the documentary was a turning point for women who had never reported Brand.
'I think that there are more women out there,' she said. 'I think the documentary was a trigger point. It signalled to people that he was a predator, and actually that women were being believed now.'
The Met's investigation into Brand remains ongoing, DI Nelson confirmed, and she hopes the conviction will give others the confidence to go to the police.
'I'm hoping that if women are thinking about reporting, the conviction will give them that confidence to report, to know that they will be believed and that we'll do a thorough investigation into anything that is alleged going forward.
The Met's investigation into Brand remains ongoing, DI Nelson confirmed
'We couldn't have got to this point without six incredible women that have been really brave and really courageous.
'They told us their allegations, built their trust in us and have gone through this really difficult process to get where we are today.
'I've got nothing but admiration for them. They've been incredible.'
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