Russell Brand is 'furious' over his barrister's performance in court having spent £1million on his defence - as comic begins ten-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault

Russell Brand is said to be 'furious' with his barrister over his performance in the trial that culminated in his conviction and imprisonment for rape and sexual assault.

Brand, who was sentenced to ten and a half years yesterday, is now said to be looking to employ a different legal team if he faces further charges, according to legal sources.

It comes after the approach of his counsel, Ian Winter KC over the course of the trial drew criticism from some observers.

Brand's apparent plan to part company with his counsel, after spending an estimated £1million on his defence, comes after Mr Winter's aggressive cross-examination of the women complainants in the case was described as close to 'victim blaming' by some critics.

And in mitigation before sentencing on Monday Mr Winter made points that appeared to be dismissed by the judge.

At one point he told the court his client 'is a fundamentally different person today', he was 'extraordinarily famous' at the time and the final alleged offence 'happened very shortly after he met [pop star] Katy Perry'. 

The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, stepped in at this point, adding: 'To say "He got away with it for 17 years" is not necessarily a huge piece of mitigation, is it?'

Mr Winter also said that one of the comedian's victims was 'not particularly vulnerable' after the TV star groped her breasts in a bar.

Ian Winter KC, lawyer of Russell Brand, leaves Southwark Crown Court on Monday after Brand's sentencing

Russell Brand was questioned by Mr Winter (left) as he gave evidence during the trial

Convicted rapist Brand was on Monday sentenced to 10 years and six months behind bars

He added that the woman who was sexually assaulted by his client in a bar in Soho in 2004, was 'tipsy' and not 'vulnerable'.

But the sentencing judge later pointed out that women always 'retain the right to say no and demand justice in the criminal courts' from sexual predators such as Brand.

He told the court: 'Whatever women wear, wherever they go, whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and demand justice in the criminal courts when predators like you, Mr Brand, act without their consent.'

Mr Winter had earlier faced widespread criticism for swearing at Sunday Times journalist Ros Urwin outside the court after the guilty verdict. Her 2023 investigation had led to Brand's victims coming forward and when she said justice had been done, he replied: 'Well it wasn't, you f****d it. Congratulations.'

Mr Winter later reported himself to the Bar Standards Board after complaints from witnesses to the exchange, as well as from the Sunday Times.

Previously, in an earlier pre-trial hearing, Mr Winter had suggested that reports by the Sunday Times and Channel Four may have been in contempt of court, and had perverted the course of justice, a claim which Ms Urwin said made her 'laugh, because it was so ludicrous' as no legal proceedings were active at the time.

Another journalist, seasoned specialist court reporter Sian Harrison, described the conduct of Brand's defence case as one of the worst examples she'd seen in 20 years.

Ms Harrison, co-author of the respected McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, told Sky News: 'I think we've seen probably one of the worst examples in recent times… of that kind of questioning of victims and… we don't know the reasons for the jury's verdict, but it may be that didn't sit well with them.

'Certain lines of defence were difficult to understand… it was quite strange to witness what was happening.'

Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley had also condemned Mr Winter's observation to jurors that none of the victims had in his words 'resisted, screamed or even tried to leave'.

Sir Mark told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think what I've heard reported heads towards, it's getting very close to victim blaming, which is something we've thought very hard about in policing and make sure we don't do.'

He said he would support a call from the Victims' Commissioner for a legal duty that would require judges to direct juries on rape myths and misconceptions in every rape trial.

Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley had also condemned Mr Winter's (pictured) claim to jurors that none of the victims had in his words 'resisted, screamed or even tried to leave'

Ian Winter KC is seen cross examining one of Russell Brand's victims during the trial

'It shouldn't be possible for inaccurate statements to be made to a jury to suggest that because a rape victim didn't behave in one way that somehow undermines their case,' he added.

Legal sources expect that Brand is likely to face further criminal charges after being found guilty at his first trial.

Prosecutors may judge it will be easier to convict him as a result of the jury's verdicts.

He also faces the likelihood of civil lawsuits and in recent months, as the Mail revealed, he appears to have begun moving money around in the hope of keeping it out of the reach of successful claimants.

It's also believed he made an application a month before the start of the trial to transfer ownership of his £5m Oxfordshire thatched cottage into the name of his wife Laura Gallacher, 39.

Brand shifted £8.7million out of his TV and stand-up company last year, prior to standing trial for rape and sexual assault.

Additionally, a nearby 500-year-old pub called the Crown Inn at Pishill which Brand bought in 2020 for £850,000 was sold in October 2025 for £975,000.

His attempts to turn the pub into a private recording studio and office space were rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council following heavy opposition from local residents and the Campaign for Real Ale.

The property was owned via his business Pablo Diablo's Legitimate Business Firm Limited, which unlike the family home has been co-owned by Laura since their marriage.

Prior to selling the old pub he and Laura shifted their registered address from the UK to the USA, where they set up home with their three children in Florida.

Earlier this year he quietly revealed he was to close Pablo Diablo's Legitimate Business Firm Limited which also handled his fortune from a career in TV, Hollywood and online TV channels.

His assets in the company had slumped from £15.3 million to £3.96 million - or more than £11 million in the 12 months to the end of 2025.

Laura Gallacher (left), the wife of British comedian and actor Russell Brand, arrives at the Southwark Crown Court in south London on November 9, 2026

It had been used to manage fees from Brand's output on platforms like Rumble, live performances and merchandise sales. His YouTube channel was permanently 'demonetized' after the sexual abuse allegations were first aired in 2023, meaning he cannot use it to make money.

The closure of the company which began at the start of the year was seen as a sign that he was bracing for the financial impact of the trial.

He is also facing a US civil action stemming from the production of the film Arthur in 2010 where the complainant is suing for unspecified damages from the actor and comedian.

Overall the company had £3million in reserves at the turn of the year - compared to £12 million at the same time in the previous year.

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