Jury Convicts Russell Brand of Rape and Three Sexual Assaults in London Trial

A jury at Southwark Crown Court in London convicted Russell Brand on November 5, 2026, of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was found not guilty on two additional rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The seven charges involved six women and covered the period from 1999 to 2009. Brand, 51, was remanded in custody after the verdicts. Mr Justice Bennathan told him that a custodial sentence of some length would result and set sentencing for Monday. The judge had earlier amended one charge from indecent assault to attempted indecent assault, citing insufficient evidence for the original count.

The convictions include the sexual assault of a woman at a bar in Soho in 2004, where Brand grabbed her breasts after less than a minute of conversation at a birthday party. Another conviction concerns a sexual assault at the Choice FM studios in London in 2004 or 2005, in which Brand grabbed a woman's face, kissed her, and touched her breasts and bottom. The rape conviction relates to an incident at Brand's then home in London in 2009, days after he met the woman at the Hammersmith Apollo following a comedy performance.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said high-profile cases of this type often produce an upsurge in reporting. He noted that the force is already investigating two further allegations and would not be surprised if many more people came forward. The women involved in the trial are entitled to lifelong anonymity. Police have encouraged anyone with additional information to contact investigators.

Brand rose to prominence in Britain during the years covered by the charges as a stand-up comedian and television and radio host. The trial lasted approximately four weeks. The jury reached its verdicts after hearing evidence on all seven counts. Brand has been held since the verdict and will appear again on Monday for sentencing.

The not-guilty verdicts cover the remaining rape and attempted indecent assault charges. Prosecutors had originally brought three rape counts. The jury distinguished among the specific incidents. No public statement from Brand or his representatives has been issued since the verdicts. The court released a sketch of Brand appearing before the judge during the proceedings.

The case began with allegations that surfaced in 2023. Brand was arrested and interviewed multiple times between 2023 and 2025. The Metropolitan Police have not released the total number of women who contacted them after the initial reports. The sentencing hearing on Monday will determine the length of the prison term. The judge's remarks indicate the court views the convictions as requiring a substantial period of incarceration.

Additional investigations remain open. Rowley's comments suggest the force anticipates further reports. The trial record is now public on the four guilty counts. The three acquittals close those specific charges. The anonymity orders for the complainants remain in force.