British actor Russell Brand sentenced to 10 years, six months for rape, sexual assault

A London court has jailed Russell Brand for 10 years and six months for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009.

British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others, Sahara Reporters reports.

Brand, 51, was sentenced on Monday at Southwark Crown Court in London, following his conviction last week.

“You were clever – and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator,” Judge Joel Bennathan said.

Brand was convicted of raping a 21-year-old woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting three women between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted of two further counts of rape and one of attempted indecent assault.

During the four-week trial, he maintained that all his encounters were consensual.

The court heard impact statements from the four victims. One said she turned to alcohol to cope, while another described Brand as a predator who showed no remorse.

According to the Press Association, Brand told his wife, Laura Gallacher, “We’ll be OK,” before being taken away.