Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault by a jury in London. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, 5 November 2026, at Southwark Crown Court, after a trial that began on 12 October. The verdict has left many people asking who is Russell Brand — and what happens to him next.
The 51-year-old comedian and actor was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was cleared of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. The judge remanded him in custody and set sentencing for Monday, 9 November.
What the Jury Decided
Brand faced seven charges involving six women, with the alleged offences dating from 1999 to 2009. He had pleaded not guilty to all of them and denied the allegations throughout.
The jury found him guilty on four counts:
- Count 3: Sexual assault
- Count 5: Sexual assault
- Count 6: Rape
- Count 7: Sexual assault
And not guilty on three counts:
- Count 1: Rape
- Count 2: Attempted indecent assault
- Count 4: Rape
The jury reached its verdicts after more than eight hours of deliberation. Brand’s wife, Laura Gallacher, was in the public gallery when the verdicts were read out.
The Four Offences He Was Convicted Of
The rape conviction relates to a 21-year-old fan Brand met after one of his stand-up shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009. The assault took place at his home in Hampstead, London, between winter and spring that year.
The three sexual assault convictions cover incidents spanning five years: a woman was assaulted at a party in a Soho bar in 2004, when Brand was working for MTV; a woman was assaulted at a radio workplace, Choice FM, in 2004 or 2005; and a woman working on a Channel 4 project was assaulted during an encounter involving a massage in 2009.
The women who gave evidence in the trial are entitled to lifelong anonymity under UK law, so their names have not been reported.
How the Case Got Here
The case began with a joint investigation published in September 2023 by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, which reported allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse against Brand between 1999 and 2012.
The Metropolitan Police then investigated, and in April 2025 Brand was charged with five offences relating to four women. Two further charges, involving two more women, were authorised in December 2025, bringing the total to seven charges across six women.
The trial opened at Southwark Crown Court on 12 October 2026 and ran for more than three weeks. Over the course of the trial, the jury heard evidence from the complainants and other witnesses, as well as testimony from Brand himself.
What Happens Next
Sentencing will take place on Monday, 9 November 2026, at Southwark Crown Court. Brand will remain in custody until then.
Delivering the verdicts, Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand that a prison sentence was inevitable, saying the consequence of the convictions was “a significant custodial term”. The exact length of the sentence will be decided at the hearing.
After the verdicts, police disclosed that two further allegations of non-consensual sexual penetration against Brand remain under investigation, and he could face more charges.
Who Is Russell Brand?
Brand, 51, first became known as a stand-up comedian and television presenter in the UK, hosting shows on MTV and BBC radio in the 2000s. He later moved into film, with roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and Arthur, and in recent years has built a large online following as a commentator and podcaster.
His career had already changed sharply after the 2023 investigation. Broadcasters and publishers cut ties, his live shows were postponed, and his online channels became his main platform.
The guilty verdicts now mark the end of a case that has run for more than three years, from the first published allegations to the courtroom. The next step is sentencing on 9 November, when the judge will decide how long Brand spends in prison.
For readers following other celebrity court cases, our report on Selma Blair’s apology after her JFK arrest covers another recent case where a public figure faced the courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Russell Brand be sentenced?
Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, 9 November 2026, at Southwark Crown Court in London. Brand is in custody until then.
What was Russell Brand found guilty of?
One count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
What did the judge say after the verdict?
Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand that he had been convicted of a number of offences, including rape, and that the consequence was inevitably “a significant custodial term”.
Could Russell Brand face more charges?
Police have said two further allegations of non-consensual sexual penetration are under investigation, so more charges are possible.
