Russell Brand Sentenced to 10 Years for Sexual Crimes
A London court ordered the actor to serve a minimum of seven years in prison following his guilty verdict on four counts.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Russell Brand will spend the next seven years in a London prison before becoming eligible for parole. The 51-year-old actor and comedian received a sentence of 10 years and six months on Monday for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The crimes were committed against four different women between 2004 and 2009.
Judge Joel Bennathan delivered the verdict at the Southwark Crown Court. He called Brand a "sexual predator" during the sentencing hearing. The judge also praised the victims for their "determination and courage" as they dealt with the trauma of the assaults. Brand had been found guilty on all four charges by a jury just four days earlier on Thursday.
The 10-year portion of the sentence applies to the rape of a 21-year-old fan in 2009. The pair met after a show at the Hammersmith Apollo. Brand was also convicted for kissing and groping a Capital Radio employee in a hallway in 2005. A third conviction covers touching an MTV employee at a party in Soho in 2004. The final count involved sexually assaulting a Channel 4 employee during a recording session in 2009.
During the hearing, Brand wore a crucifix around his neck. He looked at his wife, Laura Gallacher, who is the mother of his three children, and told her, "I love you." Court staff then led him to the internal court cells before he was transferred to prison.
Judge Bennathan noted that Brand had worked to help people with various addictions in recent years. The judge also acknowledged the family difficulties Brand faces as a father. The court accepted these factors as part of the mitigation process while imposing the lengthy term.
The jury acquitted Brand of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault. Those specific counts were not proven beyond a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors.
Brand is now set to begin serving his sentence in custody. The minimum term of seven years establishes the period he must complete before the court can consider releasing him on parole.
