ABRAnews Open the whole story. Sign in
World

Judge sentences Russell Brand to 10½ years in prison for rape, sexual assaults

Judge Joel Bennathan called him a sexual predator, and police say they are looking at two more rape allegations against him.

Russell Brand in 2011
Russell Brand in 2011. Photo: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
28 news outlets reported this
Liberal11 outletsJudge's rebuke and prosecutors' account of abused fameCenter8 outletsThe sentence, the judge's words, survivors' statementsConservative9 outletsSentence, courtroom behavior and Brand's defense and faith
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

Russell Brand was sentenced on Monday, Nov. 9, at Southwark Crown Court in London to 10 years and six months in prison. The 51-year-old British actor and comedian was found guilty on Nov. 5 of one rape count and three sexual assault counts involving four women. A jury of eight men and four women cleared him of two other rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Judge Joel Bennathan told Brand he showed a "casual and arrogant disregard" for women who said no, and called him a sexual predator. The rape count carried nine years and the sexual assaults 18 months. Brand is expected to serve at least two-thirds of the term, around seven years, before he is eligible for parole.

Brand has denied the charges and said all his encounters were consensual. His lawyer, Ian Winter, told the court Brand is a "fundamentally different person" from the man he was when the rape happened. Victim impact statements were read in court.

Police are looking at two more rape allegations against Brand, who has not been charged over them. Met Police head Sir Mark Rowley said he "wouldn't be surprised" if many more women came forward.

Key figures
  • 10 years and 6 monthsBrand's total prison sentenceABC News
  • nine yearssentence for the rape countABC News
  • four of six accuserswomen Brand was found guilty of attackingNewsNation
  • up to 15 yearspossible term for the rape count alone, per prosecutor Riel Karmy-JonesThe Boston Globe
  • two more rape allegationsunder police examination, per the Met Police headYahoo News

Three sides of the story

11Liberal8Center9Conservative

28 news outlets reported this

Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.

Liberal11 outlets

Judge's rebuke and prosecutors' account of abused fame

ABC News leads with the sentence and says Judge Joel Bennathan found the attacks on four women were fueled by Brand's "arrogance." It quotes Crown prosecutor David Roberts: Brand "was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes." CBS News calls him a "disgraced actor" and builds its report around the hearing, with victim impact statements, the judge's "staggering arrogance" and Ian Winter's claim that Brand is a "fundamentally different person today."

It adds the Met police chief's remark that he "wouldn't be surprised" if many more women came forward. Yahoo News gives the judge's remarks at length, including "You had also become a sexual predator." It adds prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones and Brand's police interview footage, and reports police are examining two more rape allegations.

The Boston Globe runs the Associated Press report, with Brand's claim that all encounters were consensual and the victims' statements.

Center8 outlets

The sentence, the judge's words, survivors' statements

The Las Vegas Review-Journal runs the Associated Press report, which opens with the 10½-year sentence and Bennathan's "casual and arrogant disregard" finding. It then gives the judge's line "You had also become a sexual predator," prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones on Brand's use of fame, Winter's plea for good character and the victims' statements. Deutsche Welle reports that the judge praised the survivors' "determination and bravery."

It quotes one woman on an "undeserved feeling of shame" and says Prime Minister Andy Burnham hailed the survivors and promised his government would be "relentless in making whatever improvements we can" for victim support. It adds a "Who is Russell Brand?" section. The Journal gives the sentence as 10½ years in jail and says a four-week trial preceded the verdict.

NewsNation says the jury found him guilty of attacking four of six accusers.

Conservative9 outlets

Sentence, courtroom behavior and Brand's defense and faith

The New York Post says Brand was "emotionless" as he was sentenced and that the judge "blasted" Brand. It reports he told his wife "we'll be ok."

It adds that police are looking at claims from two more women, including a 16-year-old. It also quotes Winter's trial argument: "It is not criminal to treat women unkindly before, during or after sex." The Daily Wire leads with the sentence and the judge's "staggering arrogance."

It covers Brand's turn to Christianity, quoting his April interview with Megyn Kelly, and one victim's line: "a leopard may change its spots, but it's still a leopard." The Post Millennial files a short breaking item with the sentence and the counts. It notes the attempted indecent assault charge was reduced in October.

Just the News, citing the Associated Press, puts the judge's "casual and arrogant disregard" remark right under its headline.

What a side did not mention
Where outlets disagree
All sources: 41 articles from 28 outlets

Liberal (20)

Center (11)

Conservative (10)

Related
  1. Jury begins deliberating in Russell Brand's rape and sexual assault trial in London
  2. Jury convicts Russell Brand of rape and sexual assault in London
  3. Judge sentences Russell Brand to 10½ years in prison for rape, sexual assaultsThis story
Wall Street

A street in New York where the stock exchange stands. In the news it means US financial markets and the big banks and investment firms as a whole.

All terms →