Katy Perry’s ex-husband Russell Brand jailed for 10 years

British comedian and actor Russell Brand, the former husband of American pop star Katy Perry, has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

The 51-year-old was sentenced on Monday, November 9, at Southwark Crown Court in London, four days after a jury found him guilty of four sexual offences committed between 2004 and 2009.

Brand received nine years in prison for the rape conviction and an additional 18 months for the three counts of sexual assault. He will also remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

The offences involved four women who encountered Brand at different points in his entertainment career. One woman was raped at his home in 2009 after meeting him at a comedy show, while the other three were sexually assaulted in separate incidents involving a London bar, a radio station and a Channel 4 production.

During sentencing, Judge Joel Bennathan described Brand as a sexual predator, saying he had shown disregard for women's right to refuse sexual advances.

The judge emphasised that a woman's right to withhold consent remained regardless of what she wore, where she went or what she drank.

The four women also presented victim impact statements detailing the lasting effects of the offences on their confidence, relationships, careers and everyday lives.

One of the women said Brand's fame, wealth and influence had created a power imbalance that made her feel powerless to report the incident at the time. Another expressed gratitude to the police and prosecution team, saying she finally felt believed.

Brand denied the charges throughout the proceedings and maintained that his sexual encounters with the women were consensual. He was, however, acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The allegations against him gained widespread attention in September 2023 following a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches, which featured accounts from women who accused him of sexual misconduct.

The Metropolitan Police subsequently launched an investigation into the allegations, leading to his prosecution. Following the sentencing, police confirmed that two further rape allegations involving Brand remained under investigation.

Brand rose to prominence as a comedian, actor and television and radio presenter, appearing in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and Arthur.

He was married to American singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012. The pair began dating in 2009 and married in India in October 2010, before Brand filed for divorce in December 2011, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalised in 2012.

In recent years, Brand has moved away from mainstream entertainment to focus on online commentary and wellness content.