Russell Brand sentencing live: Celebrity facing ‘significant’ prison term after conviction for rape and sexual assault

Russell Brand faces a “signficant” prison term when he is sentenced later today after being convicted of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women.

The former comedian, now 51, spent the weekend in a cell after he was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of raping a woman in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009.

His victims told the court he had forced them into sexual activity, sometimes within seconds of them first meeting, using his immense fame to pursue a goal of sex with 5,000 women.

Mr Justice Bennathan will pass sentence today, after telling the shamed star to expect a “significant” jail term following the jury’s verdict last week.

In the wake of Brand’s convictions, the Metropolitan Police revealed that more allegations against the former TV and radio host are being investigated.

On Sunday, culture secretary Lisa Nandy suggested Brand’s crimes were unlikely to be an isolated incident within the entertainment industry. She told Sky News: “I would wager that this is probably happening today, and I don’t think that the industry is doing enough to tackle it.”

Abuse ‘still happening today’ in entertainment industry, says Nandy

Crimes like the ones committed by Russell Brand are “probably happening today” in the entertainment industry, the culture secretary Lisa Nandy warned on Sunday.

She also told organisations the government would take action to force them if they did not sign up to protection for whistleblowers.

Ms Nandy told Sky News: “Hands on heart, I don't think we can say that this couldn't happen today. In fact, I would wager that this is probably happening today.

She added: “And I don't think that the industry is doing enough to tackle it. I would urge every organisation that hasn't already signed up to CISA, the industry body that protects whistleblowers, to do so.

Bryony Gooch9 November 2026 07:30

Burnham to look at changing rape trials to encourage more women to come forward

Andy Burnham said on Saturday he would look at changing rape trials to encourage more women to come forward and “get the conviction rate up” following the conviction of Russell Brand.

Bryony Gooch9 November 2026 07:25

What time does sentencing begin

Russell Brand’s sentencing will begin at 10:30am on Monday at Southwark Crown Court.

Bryony Gooch9 November 2026 07:20

Bryony Gooch9 November 2026 07:15

What charges Brand will be sentenced for?

Russell Brand is set to be sentenced after he was found guilty on Friday of:

• One count of rape
• Three counts of sexual assault

The jury found him guilty of groping another MTV worker during a party at a Soho bar in 2004, but not guilty of going on to rape her in a toilet.

Brand was convicted of kissing and groping a Capital Radio worker after encountering her in a corridor in 2005.

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

Brand was also convicted by the jury of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker in 2009 when she had been forced to give him a massage.

Brand was found not guilty by the jury of raping a woman he met at a cabaret show on the fringes of the 1999 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

He was also cleared of trying to drag an MTV worker in to a toilet to indecently assault her in 2001.

Bryony Gooch9 November 2026 07:10

Bryony Gooch9 November 2026 07:05

Brand faces ‘significant custodial term’

The judge told Russell Brand on Monday the consequence of the verdicts is a “significant custodial term”.

Mr Justice Bennathan said: “You’ve been convicted of a number of offences including rape.

“The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term.

“My current view is that I therefore have to remand you into custody.”