Russell Brand was convicted of rape and three sexual assaults at Southwark Crown Court and will be sentenced on Monday 9 November.

Russell Brand was convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault by a London jury on Thursday 5 November 2026. A judge has told him to expect a lengthy prison term.

At a glance
What: A Southwark Crown Court jury found Brand guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults and cleared him of two rapes and one attempted indecent assault.
When: Verdicts came Thursday 5 November 2026; sentencing is set for Monday 9 November.
Who: Brand, 51, who denied every charge; Mr. Justice Bennathan presided; six women made the allegations.

Brand was taken into custody straight away. Mr Justice Bennathan told him a "custodial sentence of some length" would follow. He refused to extend bail, citing the risk that Brand might avoid returning for sentencing. The jury of eight men and four women had deliberated for two days after a four-week trial.

What was Russell Brand convicted of?

The rape conviction relates to a woman who met Brand at one of his London stand-up shows in 2009 and later went to his home in Hampstead. Three sexual assault convictions complete the verdicts.

One involved a woman whose breasts he grabbed at a Soho bar party in the summer of 2004. Another took place at the radio station Choice FM in 2004 or 2005. The third, in 2009, saw Brand press his face into a woman's groin while an advertisement was being recorded.

What was Russell Brand cleared of?

Jurors found him not guilty on two rape charges, among them the allegation linked to a Bournemouth hotel room after the 1999 Labour Party conference. They also acquitted him of attempted indecent assault, tied to an incident at MTV in 2001.

All 12 jurors had to agree on every count.

How long could Russell Brand go to prison?

Rape carries a maximum of life imprisonment. Sexual assault carries up to 10 years, according to Britain's Sentencing Council. Brand returns to Southwark Crown Court on Monday 9 November, when the judge will set the term.

What have police said about the Russell Brand verdict?

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police said Brand "used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women."

Brand rose from stand-up comedy to Hollywood films and a BBC radio show, then stepped back from mainstream media and built an online following. He relocated to Florida.

More to Know

The Metropolitan Police opened its investigation in September 2023, after The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches published allegations against Brand.

Brand was first charged in April 2025 over offences against four women. Two further charges followed in December 2025.

The trial was moved from June to 12 October 2026 so all seven charges could be heard together.

Prosecutors portrayed Brand as a ruthless sexual predator. He told jurors that consent was always non-negotiable.

His barrister, Ian Winter KC, argued that the 2023 documentary had corrupted the complainants' accounts.

Brand's wife, Laura Gallacher, accompanied him to court each day.

The Met is investigating further rape allegations from two women. Officers have submitted files to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Russell Brand's conviction ends a trial that began on 12 October and rested on allegations spanning a decade. The jury convicted him on four of seven counts and acquitted him on three.

Business Fortune awaits Monday's hearing at Southwark Crown Court, which will set the length of his sentence.

FAQs

  1. What was Russell Brand found guilty of?

    He was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

  2. When will Russell Brand be sentenced?

    Sentencing is set for Monday at Southwark Crown Court, which falls on 9 November 2026. He stays in custody until then.

  3. How long could Russell Brand go to prison for rape?

    The maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment. The judge has not yet set Brand's term.

  4. Was Russell Brand found not guilty on any charges?

    Yes. The jury cleared him of two rape charges and one attempted indecent assault charge.

  5. Is Russell Brand facing more allegations?

    Yes. The Metropolitan Police are investigating further rape allegations from two women and have sent files to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Sources

Variety · CBS News · NBC News · Deadline · The Hollywood Reporter · Yahoo/BBC report · Reuters via The Nightly · AP via KSAT