LONDON: British comedian Russell Brand was on Thursday (Nov 5) found guilty by a London jury of one rape and three sexual assaults, involving a total of four women.
Brand, who closed his eyes but showed no emotion as the jury delivered the verdicts, was cleared of two rapes and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Judge Joel Bennathan warned the 51-year-old actor turned conservative, religious online guru that he faced a “significant custodial term”.
Brand’s wife Laura watched from the public gallery as the jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court delivered their four unanimous guilty verdicts.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday. The maximum sentence in the UK for rape is life imprisonment.
Brand, who was briefly married to US popstar Katy Perry, reportedly also faces a further accusation of raping two more women, including a 16-year-old schoolgirl, and could face further criminal charges.
The allegations, which could not be reported earlier, were revealed at previous hearings of his four-week trial.
After the verdicts, the Metropolitan Police paid tribute to the “extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them”.
“Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women,” the Met’s Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said in a statement.
“As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be,” Furphy added.
