The women Russell Brand attacked told a London court how his crimes still follow them almost two decades on, from sleepless nights to feeling sick at the sight of him on TV. As of Monday November 9, the former comedian and Hollywood actor has been jailed for 10 years and six months.

Brand’s sentence starts straight away

Brand, 51, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court by Mr Justice Bennathan, who ordered the sentence to begin immediately. It comes four days after a jury of eight men and four women found him guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009.

He’d already spent the weekend behind bars, as the judge had refused him bail on Thursday November 5 over fears he’d flee rather than return to court. Brand, who’d made his home in Florida in recent years, said only ‘yes My Lord’ as he was remanded.

The women told the court how they still live with it

The woman he raped in 2009, a 21-year-old fan he’d met after his stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo, said in a statement read to the court: “It’s something I carry with me every day, and it often feels like it will never end.” She said she’s living with trauma and struggles to sleep and eat.

Another woman spoke from behind a curtain to protect her identity. She told the court the assault left her in shock and turmoil, feeling like “damaged goods”, and added: “There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he can get away with anything.”

A third, a radio station worker he assaulted in 2005, said Brand “has managed to move on and even forget”, while hearing his voice or seeing his face still makes her jump. Brand stared straight ahead and showed no emotion as the women’s words were heard. 

How the judge described what Brand did

Passing sentence, the judge said Brand had lied about grabbing one woman’s breasts, and that she felt sick and traumatised whenever she saw him on television. He described another assault as “very rough” and said Brand had “humiliated” the woman involved.

The judge said the rape victim was left distraught and afraid she’d contracted HIV. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones had earlier called Brand a “sexual predator” who treated women as a “disposable commodity”.

Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, argued his client is now a “fundamentally different person” and that the offences should be seen as isolated incidents rather than a pattern. The judge wasn’t swayed by the years that had passed though, telling the court: “Saying ‘he got away with it for 17 years’ is not necessarily particularly mitigating.”

How long Brand is likely to spend in prison

The maximum sentence for rape in the UK is life. Brand’s 10 and a half years won’t all be spent in a cell, though people convicted of rape haven’t benefited from the early-release changes brought in for other prisoners.

Under the rules for serious sexual offences, prisoners given a standard fixed-term sentence of this length usually serve two-thirds before they’re released on licence (supervised release, where they can be recalled to prison). That would mean roughly seven years behind bars, with the rest served in the community under strict conditions.

His wife, Laura, with whom he has three children, was in court for most of the trial. His barrister said she’d been left “totally devastated” by the verdicts, while a small group of supporters gathered outside with a banner reading ‘Russell is the truth’.

Police say more women may come forward

Brand’s legal troubles aren’t over either. The Metropolitan Police said files on two more women, part of a separate, ongoing rape investigation, have now been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers are prepared for “many, many more” women to come forward, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham called Brand’s crimes “horrific”. 

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who led the investigation, said: “Brand used his influence, status, and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women.” He praised the courage of the women who gave evidence and added: “I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.” 

So while Brand begins his sentence, it’s now down to the CPS to decide whether he’ll face a second trial, with the Met making clear it’s ready to hear from any other women who come forward.

Thomas Markle, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested in Florida and charged with possessing child sexual abuse material after investigators searched two storage units in California. The case began with a disturbing discovery among his belongings in the Philippines, reportedly made by a family member, and has now become a federal investigation involving the FBI.

Markle, 82, was taken into custody on Friday, November 6, and faces one federal count of possession of child pornography. Prosecutors say officers seized around 78 items from the two storage units, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected abuse material. The allegations have caused further distress for Meghan, who has previously said she kept her father away from her children to protect them. 

FBI traced the investigation to two storage units

According to the criminal complaint, US investigators received information in October from witnesses about suspected material among Markle’s possessions in the Philippines. One person had signed an affidavit describing its discovery, while another told the FBI that Markle rented a storage unit in the Los Angeles area. Agents obtained search warrants and examined two units registered to Markle. He had rented both since 2008 and had continued paying for them, with the latest payments made in October this year, according to the Justice Department.

The FBI seized approximately 27 items from one unit and 51 from the second. The materials included slides, film negatives and books. The affidavit says investigators identified suspected child sexual abuse images among the film negatives and describes photographs which they allege show Markle with prepubescent girls. A witness who had known him since the 1970s identified the adult man in two images as Markle, according to the court document.

The investigation is continuing and the material has not all been reviewed. The affidavit says agents had identified around 18 suspected images in one collection of film negatives at the time it was prepared. The 78 items seized should not be mistaken for 78 confirmed images. The criminal complaint sets out allegations supporting the charge; it is not a finding of guilt.

Arrested at Florida care facility

Markle was arrested in Lakeland, Florida, where he had been living after returning from the Philippines earlier this year. He appeared before a federal magistrate in Tampa on Friday and did not enter a plea. He was released on bond and returned to his assisted-living facility under home detention and electronic monitoring. Conditions also restrict his travel and access to internet-connected devices, according to reports of the court hearing.

He is required to undergo health evaluations. The case is expected to proceed in California, where the charge was filed.  If convicted, Markle could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The US Department of Justice has stressed that the complaint contains allegations only.

Meghan said she kept her children away to protect them

The arrest follows weeks of reports about the investigation in the Philippines, where Markle had been living. The Associated Press reported that Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, found a collection of suspected abuse images while clearing out their father’s former home in Cebu City and contacted police and the FBI. Markle previously denied the accusations, describing them as “sick lies”, according to Reuters. Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations and referred to a letter sent to London police in 2018 which contained what she described as troubling claims about her father.

She said she had been assured the allegations were being investigated. Meghan also addressed years of speculation about the estrangement, saying her decision to keep her father away from her and her children had been made to protect them.  There has been no public comment from Meghan’s representative on Friday’s arrest. The FBI investigation remains active, while the criminal case will determine whether the allegations can be proved in court.

Thomas Markle, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested in Florida and charged with possessing child sexual abuse material after investigators searched two storage units in California. The case began with a disturbing discovery among his belongings in the Philippines, reportedly made by a family member, and has now become a federal investigation involving the FBI.

Markle, 82, was taken into custody on Friday, November 6, and faces one federal count of possession of child pornography. Prosecutors say officers seized around 78 items from the two storage units, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected abuse material. The allegations have caused further distress for Meghan, who has previously said she kept her father away from her children to protect them. 

FBI traced the investigation to two storage units

According to the criminal complaint, US investigators received information in October from witnesses about suspected material among Markle’s possessions in the Philippines. One person had signed an affidavit describing its discovery, while another told the FBI that Markle rented a storage unit in the Los Angeles area. Agents obtained search warrants and examined two units registered to Markle. He had rented both since 2008 and had continued paying for them, with the latest payments made in October this year, according to the Justice Department.

The FBI seized approximately 27 items from one unit and 51 from the second. The materials included slides, film negatives and books. The affidavit says investigators identified suspected child sexual abuse images among the film negatives and describes photographs which they allege show Markle with prepubescent girls. A witness who had known him since the 1970s identified the adult man in two images as Markle, according to the court document.

The investigation is continuing and the material has not all been reviewed. The affidavit says agents had identified around 18 suspected images in one collection of film negatives at the time it was prepared. The 78 items seized should not be mistaken for 78 confirmed images. The criminal complaint sets out allegations supporting the charge; it is not a finding of guilt.

Arrested at Florida care facility

Markle was arrested in Lakeland, Florida, where he had been living after returning from the Philippines earlier this year. He appeared before a federal magistrate in Tampa on Friday and did not enter a plea. He was released on bond and returned to his assisted-living facility under home detention and electronic monitoring. Conditions also restrict his travel and access to internet-connected devices, according to reports of the court hearing.

He is required to undergo health evaluations. The case is expected to proceed in California, where the charge was filed.  If convicted, Markle could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The US Department of Justice has stressed that the complaint contains allegations only.

Meghan said she kept her children away to protect them

The arrest follows weeks of reports about the investigation in the Philippines, where Markle had been living. The Associated Press reported that Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, found a collection of suspected abuse images while clearing out their father’s former home in Cebu City and contacted police and the FBI. Markle previously denied the accusations, describing them as “sick lies”, according to Reuters. Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations and referred to a letter sent to London police in 2018 which contained what she described as troubling claims about her father.

She said she had been assured the allegations were being investigated. Meghan also addressed years of speculation about the estrangement, saying her decision to keep her father away from her and her children had been made to protect them.  There has been no public comment from Meghan’s representative on Friday’s arrest. The FBI investigation remains active, while the criminal case will determine whether the allegations can be proved in court.