Russell Brand has been handed a prison sentence of 10 years and six months after being convicted of raping a fan and sexually assaulting three other women during the peak of his entertainment career.
The prosecution read out a statement from the woman whom Brand was convicted of raping at his home in 2009. Another complainant, who was sexually assaulted at a bar in 2004 after Brand grabbed her breasts, spoke about the emotional confusion she had experienced over the years. The woman also revealed that Brand’s celebrity status had made her question whether anyone would believe her if she came forward with her allegations.
The alleged assaults took place at different locations, including a bar, a radio station and a television studio. She further explained that the incident had affected her confidence and ability to trust herself. The fourth complainant, who was sexually assaulted while working alongside Brand at a television studio, also described the consequences of the incident.
“The total sentence is one of ten years, six months,” said Judge Justice Bennathan at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, NPR reported. Describing the lasting emotional consequences, she said: “It’s something I carry with me every day and it often feels never-ending. “I doubt my ability to make good decisions and no longer trust my instinct in the way I did,” she said. She said the uncertainty surrounding what she “should” or “could” do had remained with her for more than two decades. The experience had “a lasting impact on her life”, according to her statement. She added that “hearing his voice on television or seeing his image has made me jump” over the years. She told the court that the experience had deeply affected her and left her feeling that her workplace was no longer a safe environment.
