Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults. Police are investigating two further rape complaints, with prosecutors reviewing the files.
Russell Brand’s guilty verdict has not closed the legal case around him. Police are still investigating rape allegations from two other women, and prosecutors are reviewing files to decide whether further charges should follow. That matters: the verdict covers four offences, while the outstanding complaints could widen the case.
The 51-year-old comedian was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The jury’s decision came after a trial at Southwark Crown Court over allegations linked to women Brand encountered during his rise as a prominent British comedian and Hollywood actor.
Two more allegations remain under review
The Metropolitan Police says its inquiries into two rape complaints are ongoing. Brand has been interviewed under caution, and investigators have sent files on both complainants to the Crown Prosecution Service. Detectives remain in contact with prosecutors while further inquiries continue. The police statement confirms an active process; it does not say whether charges will be brought.
One complaint, discussed at pre-trial hearings, concerns a woman who says she dated Brand when he was 30 and she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl. In October, prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC told the court the allegations were still being investigated. She also said Brand had referred to the allegations in a recent interview after police had questioned him, but before any charge had been laid.
The possibility of additional charges had surfaced months earlier. At hearings in March and May, Brand’s barrister Ian Winter KC asked for assurances that new accusations would not be added just before trial. “There may be additional complainants in this case,” he told the court, saying that could affect the defence case. At the May hearing, Mr Justice Bennathan said there were two new accusers; Karmy-Jones confirmed prosecutors would not add them to that trial.
The allegations and the media fight
The case follows reporting by The Times, the Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches in 2023, which prompted women to contact police with allegations including rape, forced kissing and groping. Brand argued that the coverage had “destroyed” him through a “trial by media” and claimed, before proceedings began, that the publicity made a fair trial impossible.
That dispute spilled into the courtroom after the verdict. Winter confronted Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin, whose reporting helped bring complainants forward. “I hope you are pleased with yourself,” he told her. Urwin replied, “I’m pleased justice has been done.” Winter answered, “Well, it wasn’t. You f***** it,” then added, “Congratulations.” The exchange was striking, but the unresolved police inquiries are the more consequential development.
One woman who came forward publicly under the alias Alice said Brand called her “The Child” when she was 16 and he was 30, and a BBC star. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, she described the relationship as her first sexual experience and said she felt “used up,” “cheap” and “dirtied.” She also said her education was derailed and that she developed an eating disorder. Alice had previously alleged that BBC cars took her from school to Brand’s home.
Brand’s team had raised the Alice allegations during arguments over publicity before trial. Karmy-Jones told the court Brand himself had brought them into public discussion in an interview, while police inquiries were still underway.
The jury’s Thursday verdict was one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The two other rape allegations remain under investigation, with prosecutors yet to decide what action to take.
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