Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Image source, Elizabeth Cook/PA Media

Today’s verdicts will no doubt bring some closure to the four women who’ve lived with what Brand did to them for years. Some have been left “haunted”.

They came to court during the nearly four-week trial. They gave their evidence. They relived sometimes harrowing and deeply personal details about what happened. Listening to them, it was clear just how difficult that was.

The trial also saw Brand - once one of the most in demand presenters - step into the witness box and answer questions about his sexual past. Jurors were taken back to the height of his fame.

In court, he was a far cry from the extravagant and charismatic entertainer he’s known for being.

Over weeks the courtroom also heard from different witnesses. Brand’s former friend gave evidence for the prosecution. Laura, Brand’s wife, appeared in his defence.

The trial attracted huge media interest. Each day journalists - not just the UK, but from around the world - packed into Court 3 for the high-profile case.

Tonight Brand is heading to prison. On Monday, he’ll be back at Southwark Crown Court where he’ll be sentenced for his crimes.

We're ending our live coverage here - you can read more in our news story.

Sima Kotecha, senior UK correspondent, has described what Brand was like in court here, while Helena Wilkinson writes about Brand being investigated over further rape allegations made by two women.

Now, questions will be asked over whether a blind eye was turned towards Brand's behaviourpublished at 18:35 GMT 5 November

18:35 GMT 5 November

Sima Kotecha
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

This trial was supposed to last up to 12 weeks - at least that’s what the police and the media initially expected. But it took just a month for Brand to be convicted of four out of seven charges, including rape.

The victims who gave evidence did so from behind a screen - their voices often trembling as they attempted to remember the horror of what happened to them all those years ago.

Some of them have described Brand’s conduct as an open secret - he took advantage of these women and used his fame and power to seduce them - sometimes in public settings.

Questions will now be asked whether his previous employers or colleagues turned a blind eye towards his bad behaviour. Complaints have been made in the past by those who worked with him - were they not taken seriously because of his status?

Tonight - Brand is behind bars - likely in a box-room sized cell with a sink and toilet. His flamboyant clothing will be replaced by prison wear, perhaps a grey tracksuit.

He’ll be left alone for hours on end to consider what happened and why, and whether there is any way back from criminal behaviour when he is finally released - probably in many years time.

Image source, PA Media

Russell Brand has been remanded in custody after a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault offences following a weeks-long trial at Southwark Crown Court. Here's what's unfolded:

• The comedian and actor, 51, has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault - here's what the convictions relate to
• He's been found not guilty of three offences - one of attempted indecent assault and two of rape - after facing trial on seven charges
• Trial judge Mr Justice Bennathan has told Brand he will face "a significant custodial term" and therefore must be remanded to custody ahead of his sentencing on Monday

• David Roberts, senior prosecutor in the London rape and serious sexual assault unit, says in a statement Brand "used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes"
• "I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be," Metropolitan Police Det Supt Andy Furphy says
• Brand's father, Ron, tells the BBC he’s "bemused and shocked" by the verdicts. "I just didn’t expect this - it’s wrong," he says
• Following the verdict, it can now be reported Brand is being investigated over further rape allegations made by two women and has already been questioned by officers in relation to the complaints

You can follow analysis and further insights into the Russell Brand trial in the Fame Under Fire podcast which is available on BBC Sounds, YouTube and iPlayer.

Today was the culmination of a trial that lasted for just over three weeks.

Russell Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, and found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Here's how the case unfolded:

The Times and The Sunday Times - which along with Channel 4's Dispatches programme reported allegations against Brand in 2023 - says today's verdict is a "testament to the courage" of the women who came forward and informed its reporting.

In a statement, it says many of the women "who bravely took part in this investigation did not have their cases brought before a court" but that "their contributions were vital in bringing these issues to light".

"Our commitment remains with everyone who found the courage to share their experiences," it says.

The BBC says the thoughts of everyone at the corporation "are with the brave women who came forward and told their stories which led to a conviction in this case".

In a statement, a spokesperson says there "can be no place for the abuse of power", adding the industry must work together "to ensure that anyone who suffers at someone else’s hand feels able to report it, that their concerns are taken seriously and that they are listened to".

It references a "detailed report" published by the BBC in January 2025 into how complaints about Brand's conduct were handled, looking at eight allegations of misconduct while he worked at the BBC between 2006 and 2008.

"It was of great concern to us that some people felt unable to raise concerns about Brand’s behaviour. We apologised to those impacted, for both the culture and failings at the time, and we reiterate that apology again today," the spokesperson adds.

Sima Kotecha
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Image source, Julia Quenzler

The flamboyant character with big gestures and provocative one-liners was not the man we saw in the courtroom.

During his rape trial, Brand mostly sat impassively in the dock, staring straight ahead. His stillness was striking. His face betrayed no visible emotion or reaction as the string of allegations against him were outlined in detail over several days.

The Brand on show in this trial seemed courteous to a fault.

Yet the polite, respectful man we saw holding doors open and thanking court staff was in striking contrast to the evidence we heard.

His victims told of a brash, arrogant, sexually voracious man who did not take no for an answer from the women he preyed on; a ruthless rapist and manipulative sex offender.

• Continue reading the full article

Louisa Compton, director of News, Digital and Audience Trust at Channel 4, has released a statement following the outcome of Brand's case.

"The outcome of the Russell Brand trial belongs to all of the women who had the courage to speak out - all of those who participated in the criminal process and those different women who shared their testimony in the original Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times and The Times investigation," Compton says.

The Metropolitan Police began investigating allegations against Brand in September 2023 following reporting by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

Brand denied those allegations, which related to different women than those involved in the criminal trial.

"It is a powerful demonstration of why fearless, independent, investigative journalism in the public interest matters. We remain profoundly grateful to every woman who trusted the Channel 4 reporting team," Compton adds.

Image source, PA Media/Elizabeth Cook

Warning: This post contains distressing details

Russell Brand has been found guilty of four offences, and not guilty of three offences. As he makes his way to prison, before sentencing on Monday, here's a recap of the charges:

Guilty

• Brand was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman whose breasts he grabbed at a bar in London in 2004
• He was also guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at the Choice FM studios in London in either 2004 or 2005, when he grabbed her face and kissed her before touching her breasts and bottom
• Brand was guilty of anally raping a woman at his then-home in London in 2009 after meeting her at a comedy show in Hammersmith
• He was also guilty of a sexual assault charge while working on a Channel 4 project in 2009, when he laid his head into the groin area of a woman working with him without her consent

Not guilty:

• He was cleared of an allegation that he raped a woman at a hotel in Bournemouth in 1999, during the Labour Party conference
• He was found not guilty of orally raping a woman in a toilet at a bar in London - the same woman he was found guilty of sexually assaulting when he grabbed her breasts
• He was also found not guilty of attempted indecent assault - he was accused of grabbing a woman’s arm and pulling her towards a toilet in 2001

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Image source, Reuters

The prison van Russell Brand is believed to have been inside has just left Southwark Crown Court.

Photographs were holding up cameras to the tiny windows to try and get a shot of Brand in the van.

As it drove away from court, a member of the public was shouting: "Hold onto Jesus, Russell."

Brand is on now on his way to prison. He'll be back here on Monday to be sentenced for his crimes.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Among the four offences Brand has been found guilty of is a sexual assault charge while working on a Channel 4 project in 2009.

He laid his head into the groin area of a woman working with him at the time without her consent.

In a statement, the broadcaster says: "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the six women involved in the case against Russell Brand, including those affected by the crimes for which he has been convicted.

"We recognise the profound impact of these crimes and commend the extraordinary courage of all those who gave evidence as prosecution witnesses at trial."

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Outside Southwark Crown Court, dozens of photographers and journalists are waiting by a gate to the side of the building for the prison van to leave.

Inside it will be Russell Brand.

Each morning and afternoon during his trial, Brand walked into and out of Southwark Crown Court with his entourage, including his wife Laura.

But this afternoon they left without him.

Soon, the man who was one of most in-demand entertainers, will be heading to prison to spend his first night there, ahead of his sentencing on Monday.

Image source, EPA

The Metropolitan Police has released footage of officers interviewing Brand in November 2023 and July 2025 - watch sections below.

Helena Wilkinson and Sima Kotecha
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Before and during Brand's rape and sexual assault trial, videos were posted on his social media accounts to his millions of followers.

In one episode called "The I of The Storm", Brand talked about feeling "God's presence" walking into court.

The day after the prosecution opened the case to the jury, a post on Brand's X account said "the prayer is working thank you".

And at the end of the first week of his trial another episode called "Sunday Service with the Brands" was posted.

"You've looked absolutely beautiful and spectacular," Brand told his wife, referring to what she had worn to court.

"You've looked wonderful too," she replied.

Laura Brand said they read psalms on their way to court and before they went in they prayed.

Referring to media covering the trial, she said: "We are pretty vigilant about not engaging in the media around it, it's too evil, sorry to say."

Image source, EPA

We can now bring you images from some of Russell Brand's police interviews, issued by the Metropolitan Police.

The first dates from 2025; the second from 2023.

Image source, PA / Met Police

Image source, PA / Met Police

Sima Kotecha
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Russell Brand faced seven charges in total: three of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault.

He was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault - you can read a summary of his offences here.

He was found not guilty on three counts.

Brand was cleared of raping a woman at a hotel in Bournemouth in 1999, where he was attending the Labour Party conference. He had been performing at a cabaret show where he met the woman.

He was found not guilty of an attempted indecent assault offence - he was accused of grabbing a woman’s arm and pulling her towards a toilet in 2001.

He was also found not guilty of orally raping a woman in a toilet at a bar in London. The attack was alleged to have happened when they had been at a birthday party together.

Image source, PA Media

Police are now giving statements outside Southwark Crown Court following the guilty verdicts.

You can watch live at the top of the page.

We can now bring you a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service.

"Russell Brand was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes," says David Roberts, senior prosecutor in the London rape and serious sexual assault unit.

"He was a manipulator with an insatiable desire to get what he wanted regardless of whether consent was given or not.

"As his career took off, he seized opportunities to assault the women around him.

"Although his tactics varied, at the centre of every assault was an abuse of power and sexual greed, with a complete disregard for the impact of his actions.

"I would like to thank all the women in this case for their courage in coming forward and seeing this sexual abuser brought to justice."

Image source, Getty Images

Sima Kotecha
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

A comedian and writer who worked with Russell Brand has described him as being "like a wolf" where women were concerned.

Cole Parker shared an agent with Brand in the 1990s, and the two men often performed on the same comedy circuit. He says they were in contact until 2013.

In an interview with the BBC, Parker says Brand’s attitude towards women was "absolutely deplorable", and that he would often go from being "very charming to very angry and threatening when he didn't get what he wanted".

"If a girl walked past him, he'd give himself whiplash, looking at her so quickly. He would stare at women the way that a starving person would stare at a plate of food.

"He looked like a wolf. He looked like he was about to jump on them."

Sima Kotecha
Reporting from Southwark Crown Court

Ron Brand, Russell’s father, tells the BBC he’s "bemused and shocked" by the verdicts.

"I just didn’t expect this - it’s wrong," he says. "It’s devastating."