Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault by UK court

The British comedian was convicted by jury at London court of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault by a London court and will face a prison sentence.

A jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Thursday convicted the 51-year-old of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Brand, once one of Britain’s most prominent broadcasters and the former husband of US singer Katy Perry, had denied the charges, insisting that the encounters were consensual or that the allegations had been fabricated or reimagined.

Prosecutors described Brand, who starred in the films Get Him to the Greek and Arthur, as a “ruthless” sexual predator.

Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand would be sentenced on Monday and faced a lengthy prison term.