Russell Brand sentenced to over 10 years in jail for rape and sexual assault

Victims of Russell Brand recounted the ongoing impact of his crimes on their lives almost two decades later as the former comedian and actor received a 10 and a half year jail sentence. Brand, 51, was found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009. The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, ordered the sentence to commence immediately.

Brand, who had fled to Florida, appeared in court and only responded with a "yes My Lord" when sentenced. The woman he raped in 2009, a 21-year-old fan he met after a show, said the trauma from the assault feels like it will never end, adding that she struggles with sleep and eating. Another victim, assaulted in 2005, said seeing Brand's face or hearing his voice still causes her to feel sick.

The judge described the rape victim as distraught and feared she might have contracted HIV. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones described Brand as a "sexual predator" who treated women as "disposable commodities". Despite the passage of time, the judge emphasized that this sentencing does not mitigate the severity of the crimes. The maximum sentence for rape in the UK is life.

Brand's 10 and a half year sentence, while not serving the entirety in a cell, will still entail a significant prison term. Prosecutors have handed files on two additional women to the Crown Prosecution Service for potential second trials.