British comedian Russell Brand, known for voicing Dr. Nefario in the 'Minions' series, has been sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for rape and sexual assault.
On November 9, a court in Southwark, London, sentenced Brand after a jury found him guilty of one count of raping a 21-year-old woman in 2009 and three counts of sexually assaulting women. Two counts of rape and one count of attempted sexual assault were found not guilty.
Brand, 51, gained fame in the early 2000s as the host of Channel 4's 'Celebrity Big Brother's Big Mouth.' He voiced Dr. Nefario in 'Superbad' and the 'Minions' series. He was married to singer Katy Perry from October 2010 until their divorce in 2012.
During sentencing, Judge Joel Benison remarked, "You were clever and entertaining in the eyes of many, but you were also a sex offender." He emphasized that women have the right to refuse consent regardless of their attire, location, or beverage, and that offenders like Brand must face justice in criminal court.
Prior to sentencing, four victims testified in court. One victim, who was assaulted in a central London bar in 2004, spoke behind a screen. Another victim, assaulted at work in 2005, stated in a written testimony that Brand was "a sex offender who does not regret the impact of his actions on my life." Brand was seen praying with a cross during the reading of the testimony. He has maintained that the encounters were consensual. After the sentencing, he told his wife, Laura Gallacher, "We will be okay."
Brand will be placed on the sex offender registry for life. The Metropolitan Police are investigating two additional rape allegations against him, separate from this trial. The investigation began in 2023 after multiple women came forward following reports by The Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4. David Roberts from the Crown Prosecution Service stated after sentencing, "Fame, status, and the passage of time do not change the fundamental issue of consent."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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