Former British actor Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault

Former British comedian and influencer Russell Brand was found guilty on Thursday by a London court of raping one of his fans, then aged 21, and sexually assaulting three other women between 2004 and 2009.

Russell Brand, 51, will learn his sentence on Monday, but the judge warned him that he would receive a "significant prison term." He has been remanded in custody.

Six women accused him of rape and sexual assault between 1999 and 2009, when he was a famous stand-up comedian and television presenter. He was acquitted of two rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Russell Brand showed no emotion when the court delivered its verdict, at the end of a trial that lasted nearly four weeks.

During the trial, it was revealed that Russell Brand was accused of raping two other women, one of whom was 16 years old at the time of the alleged offenses. He could therefore face further criminal charges.

The former star British television presenter was found guilty on Thursday by Southwark Magistrates' Court of raping a 21-year-old fan he met at his stand-up show in 2009.

He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting an MTV employee at a bar party in 2004, forcibly kissing and inappropriately touching a woman in 2009, and sexually assaulting a Channel 4 television employee in 2009.

"Brand used his influence, status and celebrity to exploit women and commit sexual offences against them," said London police official Andy Furphy.

"I hope this conviction will send a clear message: no one is above the law, regardless of their fame or power," he added before praising the "extraordinary courage, resilience and determination" of the women who testified.

Russell Brand denied the accusations against him. He claimed during the trial that he had once had a very active sex life with numerous partners, but that all his relationships were consensual.

The former actor, who was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry, has recently reinvented himself as a conservative guru, driven by Christian faith and regularly expressing conspiracy theories to his millions of social media followers.

Russell Brand, who remarried in 2017, is the father of three children. He has settled in Florida.

AFP