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British comedian and actor Russell Brand, once one of the country’s most high-profile broadcasters and a Hollywood star, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on Monday after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009.
The 51-year-old former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry was sentenced at London’s Southwark Crown Court by Judge Joel Bennathan.
The judge described Brand as a sexual predator who believed his fame allowed him to act as he pleased.
Brand was found guilty last Thursday following a four-week trial.
The jury convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. He had denied all the charges.
During Monday’s hearing, one of the victims, who was raped by Brand in 2009, described the lasting psychological impact of the attack, saying the trauma remained with her every day and often felt never-ending.
The woman said Brand’s fame, wealth and influence had made her feel powerless and afraid to report the incident for years.
The other victims also described the impact of the assaults on their lives.
The incidents included sexual assaults involving female employees of television and radio organisations, including Channel 4, MTV and Capital Radio.
Prosecutors told the court that Brand had abused the influence and power that came with his celebrity status to exploit women.
The judge said his fame had contributed to his belief that he could act however he wanted.
Brand’s defence lawyer, Ian Winter, argued that his client had changed significantly over the years, citing his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and his Christian faith.
Brand, who rose to prominence in the early 2000s through television and radio programmes, later starred in Hollywood films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and Arthur. He was briefly married to Katy Perry.
He had moved away from mainstream entertainment in recent years and developed a substantial online following.
Brand was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
He is expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being released on licence and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.
Meanwhile, London’s Metropolitan Police said Brand was also being investigated over two other alleged rapes, including one involving a girl who was 16 at the time. Police have encouraged other potential victims to come forward.