10 years, 6 months in prison for rape and sexual assault: Russell Brand sentenced
Convictions and sentence
Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced him Monday to 10 and a half years in prison. The allegations made by six women covered the period from 1999 to 2009.
Judge criticizes Brand’s conduct
In his sentencing remarks, Bennathan called Brand a “sexual predator” and said he had shown “staggering arrogance.” The judge said Brand believed fame meant he could act however and whenever he liked. Bennathan also addressed the impact of his decision on Brand’s children, saying their hardship stemmed from their father’s serious criminal offending, according to the BBC.
Women describe lasting impact
One woman said in a statement that she had endured years of shock and turmoil and felt traumatized, according to CBS News partner network BBC. Another statement, read by the prosecutor, described Brand as a sexual predator with no remorse and expressed hope he would not hurt more women. The article does not identify the women who made those statements.
Brand denied the charges
He acknowledged leading a promiscuous life and being obsessed with sex when he was young, but said he had never forced anyone to act against their will. Before sentencing, his lawyer, Ian Winter KC, called him a fundamentally different person and described the rape as a momentary failure to respect the woman’s consent.
Key points
- Brand received a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault.
- A jury convicted him over incidents in London in 2004, 2005 and 2009.
- Six women made allegations spanning 1999 to 2009.
- Brand denied the charges and said he had not forced anyone to act against their will.