[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Brand Russell found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault in the United Kingdom. And the 51-year-old actor is now in custody awaiting sentencing.
A jury found Brand guilty of four of the seven charges against him on Thursday after a trial involving allegations by six women. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. According to the BBChe was taken into custody after the verdict and is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday.
Related: Russell’s comments on Ruby Rose’s sexual assault allegations against ex-wife Katy Perry
The allegations related to incidents dating back to 1999 to 2009. The women described incidents in settings including a hotel, bar, radio station, workplace and Brand’s home.
Brand had previously denied all seven charges. As Sky News reportedly, he admitted during the trial that he was “reckless” in his pursuit of women and that he used fame to seek sexual relationships years ago. But he said what happened was consensual, telling jurors that consent was “fundamental, necessary and essential.”
wife, Laura Brandalso proven to protect them. She spoke about their complicated early relationship, which began in 2006 and ended the following year partly due to the difficulty of staying monogamous. As Sky News statement, Laura told the court:
“When I met him, I was aware that he liked women, and I was aware in the second half of that year that he was communicating with other women. I was not interested in having a relationship with him if he was sleeping with other people.
The couple reunited in 2015, married in 2017, and now have three children together. Laura said her husband was “warm and kind, a wonderful father to our children, and a wonderful, attentive husband.” She said:
“I feel like it’s really seen by him. We have a very honest, open and transparent relationship and marriage. … Our relationship has always been there. [about] honesty I love him so much.”
As Perezcious readers no doubt know, the investigation began after that Channel 4 and The Sunday Times published allegations against Brand in September 2023. Their joint statement included accounts of sexual and emotional abuse, and prompted a police investigation.
Related: Russell admits he ‘pushed’ Katy Perry into marriage because he felt ‘inappropriate & insecure’
Brand continued to deny that he had ever committed a crime, at one point saying in a video shared last year that he had struggled with drug and sex addiction but “I was never a rapist.” He said he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.
Now, with four convictions on his record, Brand is awaiting a sentence that could mean years in prison.
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[Image via WENN]