Russell Brand's wife Laura will stand by him because she still believes he is innocent and is moving back to the UK with their three children

Russell Brand's wife Laura will stand by the disgraced comedian and is making plans to move back to the UK with their three young children as he begins a lengthy jail sentence, friends have revealed.

The former actor and comedian, 51, faces years behind bars after he was convicted of raping a fan and sexually assaulting three other women. 

But Laura is said to have confided to friends she believes her husband is innocent - and will continue to support him as he serves his 'significant' sentence. 

She and her children are now set to permanently relocate from Florida to Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, where the couple already have a home.

The couple first met in 2006, when she was aged 19 and he was 31.

Brand and his family moved to the States in 2024 in the wake of explosive allegations made about him in a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation. He was formally charged last April. 

Laura, 39, the daughter of Ryder Cup-winning golfer Bernard Gallacher and sister of TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher, was the only person who gave evidence in person in Brand's defence - and has told friends that despite everything she remains 'resolutely loyal' to him. 

An insider told The Sun that she has been rocked by his convictions and her 'whole world has collapsed.'

Russell Brand's wife Laura will stand by the disgraced comedian and is making plans to move back to the UK as he begins a lengthy jail sentence, friends have revealed

Laura was present at court every day of the trial at Southwark Crown Court - and was the only one to defend him in person 

The couple first met when she was aged 19 and he was 31. Pictured: Brand and Laura in 2007

Just days before the trial started, Brand told his wife he didn't like the thought of prison during a podcast recorded from their home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

They added that friends have offered support to Laura, while also expressing a sense of 'shock' and 'betrayal' over the evidence revealed during the trial.

A source said: 'As more details have emerged, particularly the graphic and deeply disturbing allegations made by the women involved, some of his closest friends have started to question everything Russell previously told them.

'They feel completely blindsided by him.'

Laura's unrelenting belief in her husband comes despite his conviction - and warning from Britain's top police officer that the cases brought to trial could just be the 'tipping point'.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he 'wouldn't be surprised' if the former comedian's downfall encouraged more victims to report historic allegations against famous figures.

He added 'many, many more' alleged victims may also come forward to accuse Brand of further offences.

The comments came after Brand spent his first night in solitary confinement at Wandsworth Prison after being found guilty of launching the heinous sex attacks on four women at the height of his fame.

The latest revelations come as:

• Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he 'wouldn't be surprised' if there were many more victims 
• Andrew Sachs' granddaughter called Russell Brand a 'seriously unwell sex addict' and said her life was ruined with THAT slut shaming BBC Radio 2 call 
• Brand joked he would make his female assistant strip naked to meet Jimmy Savile in creepy conversation with notorious paedophile
• Russell Brand joked with Noel Fielding about being rapists in front of Lily Allen during a TV show exchange she later described as 'really horrendous'
• Comedian Sean Lock eviscerated 'self-serving, pathetic' Russell Brand, saying he 'hated' him and feared 'one of my daughters might bring something like that home'

Brand was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan after meeting her at a 2009 stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo.

He was also found guilty of groping another MTV worker during a party at a Soho bar in 2004, but not guilty of going on to orally rape her in a toilet.

Jurors found Brand guilty of sexually assaulting a Capital Radio worker after meeting her in a corridor in 2005 and guilty of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker during a forced massage in 2009.

He was cleared of raping a woman he met at a cabaret show on the fringes of the 1999 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth and was found not guilty of trying to drag an MTV worker into a toilet to indecently assault her in 2001. 

Laura has largely remained out of the limelight since the couple married in 2017, but has become an increasing presence by her husband's side after they launched their Christian YouTube show five months ago.

Speaking on their podcast before the trial, Brand and Laura joked that they were in the UK for a 'vacation' before saying that 'the Lord has brought us here'.

Brand introduced her as his 'beloved wife' before she admitted she had been nervous about accompanying him to court.

Laughing, he said: 'We're in the UK. Why is that? Just fancied a trip,' before adding more seriously: 'The Lord has brought us here.'

Laura replied: 'I think it's a vacation, but yes, the Lord has brought us here.'

Brand went on: 'I'm happy to be in the place where Jesus found me,' referring to the UK, where he embraced Christianity and was baptised in the River Thames.

His wife, ever loyal to him, said they would continue making their podcast.

'Our aim is to carry on doing Sunday Service. More than ever, when you're faced with times of challenge, you have to find your connection with God. Perhaps Sunday Service will be a journey in anchoring ourselves in faith and trust during difficult times,' Laura said.

Describing their appearances at court ahead of the trial, she added: 'I got nervous before going to court. I'm not used to getting out of the car and seeing lots of photographers.'

Brand then said: 'Pray for us if you feel so inclined, and let us know in the chat if there is something we can pray for you about.'

The pair closed their eyes as Brand said: 'I thank you for my beautiful wife, this mystery woman in yellow, our glorious children and your son, Jesus Christ.'

In 2015, a chance meeting on the towpath of a canal in east London changed Laura Gallacher's life.

The pair married two years later near Henley-on-Thames, with guests including Noel Gallagher and Jonathan Ross.

Brand has repeatedly spoken of how lucky he is to have Laura in his life and credited her with supporting him through difficult periods.

She grew up in Wentworth, Surrey, on what is widely regarded as one of Britain's most exclusive private estates.

Laura, a 'mummy blogger' and author of the parenting book The Joy Journal For Magical Everyday Play, has been described by friends as 'kind-natured' and, despite coming from a high-profile family, happy to stay out of the limelight.

Speaking on their podcast before the trial, Brand and Laura joked they were in the UK for a 'vacation' before saying that 'the Lord has brought us here'. Pictured: The couple at their home in Oxfordshire

The couple pictured in 2018, a year after they married. Brand is now set to spend their tenth wedding anniversary, which will be marked next year, behind bars

Aside from occasional appearances on Brand's YouTube channel, she has largely maintained a low profile and rarely attends red-carpet events.

She was 19 and studying art when she first met Brand, who shared an agent with her sister.

The pair had a brief relationship before going their separate ways.

When they met again 11 years ago, Gallacher was recovering from the breakdown of a long-term relationship.

She later recalled how a friend persuaded her to leave her flat for a walk along a canal in east London, where she unexpectedly bumped into Brand.

'I hadn't seen Russell for years,' she said. 'He was so different. We both immediately knew it was going to be serious.

'My ex had literally moved out of our flat that day, and I was heartbroken, with mascara running down my face.

'A friend dragged me out on a walk to the canal in east London, where I'd never been in my life, and as we came on to the footpath, Russell was standing there, like he'd organised it.'

Gallacher later said they both agreed they wanted a quiet family life together.

Before moving to the US, the family lived in Oxfordshire.

Speaking previously about their relationship, she said: 'We really do have fun together.

'Sometimes, it can look like I'm dealing with an adult toddler, but Russell's really into doing the stuff I'm into.'

Friends have described her as 'very warm' but also fiercely protective of her family's privacy.

We speak to the detective who brought down Russell Brand

Hi, I'm Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk.

Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults - and our reporters Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull were in court every day to witness it all. They sat down with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson who revealed why the women who accused him in the infamous documentary were not involved in his rape trial. 

Subscribe to The Crime Desk to listen to the podcast. 

Laura has also become a devout Christian but, until this year, largely stayed away from her husband's online broadcasts.

She previously said of his content: 'I don't find it easy, and that's why I don't ever really want to be doing any of it.

'I have so many questions about it, and the exposure it inevitably leads to does expose you to a sort of dark energy.'

They launched their Sunday Service show five months ago, with Brand thanking his wife for standing by him.

Smiling, she replied: 'I must be crazy.'

In 2010, he married pop star Katy Perry, but the couple divorced two years later.

Brand also enjoyed a successful Hollywood career, appearing in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the Despicable Me franchise.

In recent years, however, allegations about his treatment of women came under scrutiny following television and newspaper investigations. 

Police arrested him in 2023, by which time he had largely turned his attention to podcasting and spirituality.

Brand embraced Christianity in 2024 and was baptised in the Thames alongside his friend Bear Grylls.

The born-again Christian regularly began recording podcasts and YouTube videos, before launching a show with his wife in which they frequently discussed their shared Christian faith, read from the Bible, and prayed together.

Even in the days leading up to his conviction, the couple continued to produce their Sunday Service show.

On October 11, the day before the jury was selected, Laura read out a message from a supporter who said God would be with him in prison and that he would 'get through it'.

Brand, who said he entered court each day wearing the 'full armour of God', interrupted her to admit he was scared.

Tapping Laura on the shoulder, he said: 'I don't like things where it's like you might have to go to prison.'

She replied sympathetically: 'Yeah, I know, but that is just the nature of what a trial is.'

On the final day of the trial on Thursday, Laura could be seen crying and holding hands with an aide in the public gallery as the verdicts were read out. 

Brand looked at his wife and said: 'Laura, I love you.'

He then loudly replied, 'Yes, my Lord,' when he was remanded into custody. 

He will be sentenced on Monday at Southwark Crown Court after being denied the chance to say goodbye to his children and wife.

Justice Bennathan said, 'I regret the hardship caused to the children, of course,' after being told Brand wanted bail over the weekend so he could explain the convictions to his two daughters and son, aged nine, eight and three.

But the judge said Brand 'has considerable resources', adding: 'Whatever the good intentions of the family and the defendant today, I think there are substantial grounds to fear he might, in the end, not feel able to come along and face his sentence.'

He made OK gestures to his defence team and repeatedly said the words, 'I'm good, I'm good, I'm good,' before being escorted from the dock.

A conviction of rape can carry a life sentence, with standard maximum determinate sentences often reaching up to 19 years depending on the severity and guidelines.

Sexual assault convictions, meanwhile, carry a maximum sentence of 10 years per count.