British comedian and actor Russell Brand was sentenced on Monday, November 9, 2026, to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

The sentence was handed down at Southwark Crown Court in London, four days after a jury found him guilty following a trial that lasted about four weeks.

What he was convicted of

The jury found Brand, 51, guilty of:

• One count of rape
• Three counts of sexual assault

The offenses involved four women and took place between 2004 and 2009, when Brand was becoming one of Britain’s best-known TV and radio personalities.

What he was cleared of

Brand originally faced seven charges involving six women. The jury found him not guilty of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. Those acquittals are part of the outcome too, and they matter: he was convicted on four of the seven charges, not all of them.

What the judge said

Judge Joel Bennathan linked the crimes to the period when Brand’s fame was growing. He told Brand he had shown complete disregard for women’s right to say no. He also explained that in serious sexual offense cases, a defendant’s good character usually does not reduce the sentence much.

Brand had remained free on bail during the trial but was taken into custody immediately after the guilty verdict on Thursday, November 5. The judge refused bail ahead of sentencing.

Brand’s response

Brand denied all the charges throughout the trial. He testified that he had been obsessed with sex when he was younger and lived a promiscuous life, but insisted that all of his encounters were consensual. His wife and father attended court to support him.

How the case began

The women came forward after a 2023 joint investigation by The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, which aired accounts from women who accused Brand of abuse. He was charged in April 2025 and pleaded not guilty.

Who is Russell Brand?

Brand became famous in the early 2000s as a stand-up comedian and TV and radio host, including a show on BBC radio. He later starred in Hollywood films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry. In recent years he moved to Florida and built a large online following with videos about wellness, religion and conspiracy theories.

A note on rumors

Since the sentencing, social media posts have spread claims about Brand’s first days in prison, including supposed encounters with other inmates. None of these claims have been confirmed by officials or by named sources, so we are not reporting them as fact. The court’s published sentencing remarks, R v Russell Brand, on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website, are the official record of the case.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, support is available. In the US, you can contact RAINN at 1-800-656-4673.