Additional women contact UK police after Russell Brand rape and sexual assault trial

More women have come forward with allegations against former TV star Russell Brand since the start of his rape and assault trial, a UK police chief confirmed. Detective Inspector Andy Furphy from the London Metropolitan Police revealed that two further allegations against Brand are currently under investigation, in addition to several reports coming in during and after the verdict.

Brand, who was jailed for 10 years and six months on Monday after being found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009, has been the subject of criticism from his defence lawyer, Ian Winter, and UK Deputy Prime Minister Lucy Powell. The defence lawyer's comments, which downplayed the severity of the alleged crimes and suggested the victims were not particularly vulnerable, have been widely condemned as victim-blaming.

Victim Support, a support organization for sexual assault survivors, expressed dismay at the tactics used by the defence, stating that such approaches are reminiscent of a bygone era when victims were hesitant to come forward due to fear of being questioned about their behavior and sexual history. Rape Crisis England & Wales highlighted the prevalence of rape myths and stereotypes in sexual violence trials, emphasizing that the defendant's profile in Brand's case has brought attention to the systemic issues faced by victims across the country.

The prime minister called for changes in the way rape trials are conducted to ensure that women do not feel they are on trial in court, while a rights organization called for a trauma-informed justice system to prevent re-victimization of survivors.