{
  "id": 18351227,
  "title": "Russell Brand guilty of rape and three sexual assaults",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-guilty-of-rape-and-three-sexual-assaults",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T18:13:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/entertainment/celebrity-news/russell-brand-guilty-of-rape-and-three-sexual-assaults/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British comedian Russell Brand was convicted on Thursday at London's Southwark Crown Court of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women, spanning from 2005 to 2009. The comedian, 51, was cleared of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Judge Joel Bennathan warned Brand that he could face a significant custodial sentence. Brand's wife, Laura, was present in the public gallery as the jury delivered their unanimous guilty verdicts. The maximum sentence for rape in the UK is life imprisonment, and Brand faces sentencing on Monday. The Metropolitan Police praised the women who came forward, stating that Brand exploited and sexually offended against them using his influence and fame. Prosecutor David Roberts described Brand as a \"predatory and manipulative\" sexual predator who committed the crimes regardless of consent. Brand's lawyer Ian Winter had requested bail to allow Brand to say goodbye to his three young children, but Judge Bennathan denied the request, citing Brand's considerable resources and the risk of him fleeing after sentencing.",
  "summary": "He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "The Russell Brand I saw in court was not the flamboyant character most people will know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/the-russell-brand-i-saw-in-court-was-not-the-flamboyant-character",
        "published": "2026-11-05T14:37:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Russell Brand found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-found-guilty-of-rape-and-three-sexual-assaults",
        "published": "2026-11-05T14:53:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Russell Brand guilty of rape, three sexual assaults, says UK court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-guilty-of-rape-three-sexual-assaults-says-uk-court",
        "published": "2026-11-05T15:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Russell Brand: The rise and fall of a TV star",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-tv-star",
        "published": "2026-11-05T16:14:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Russell Brand guilty of rape, three sexual assaults",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-guilty-of-rape-three-sexual-assaults",
        "published": "2026-11-05T17:51:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Comedian Russell Brand found guilty of rape, sexual assault",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/comedian-russell-brand-found-guilty-of-rape-sexual-assault",
        "published": "2026-11-05T18:59:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Russell Brand found guilty in UK court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-found-guilty-in-uk-court",
        "published": "2026-11-05T19:18:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Russell Brand found guilty in UK court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-found-guilty-in-uk-court-18359183",
        "published": "2026-11-05T19:18:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}