UK3 min(s) read
Solicitor makes sinister Russell Brand prediction after comedian was sentenced to 10 years in prison
A solicitor has made an alarming prediction after Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On Monday (November 9), the 51-year-old was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for rape and three counts of sexual assault for offenses committed between 2004 and 2009 following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Justice Bennathan described the disgraced comedian as a "sexual predator" as he handed down his sentence.
"Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent," he added.
The former radio host is being held at HMP Wandsworth in London. It is believed he will serve seven years of his sentence in prison, with the remainder on license and subject to strict conditions.
He will likely also face lifetime notification requirements once his full sentence is served, meaning he must tell the police details about his personal life.
However, Raj Chada, head of criminal defence at Hodge, Jones & Allen, believes this is not the final time Brand will be in court.
"There can be no mistaking the gravity and sickening nature of Brand’s offending, but his legal team will view the sentence as harsh. They will most likely appeal against his sentence, arguing that the judge has made an example of Brand while under the pressure of the media spotlight," he said, per Daily Star.
"The court took Brand’s celebrity status into account, as well the abuse of any trust that victims would have placed in him. We heard heartrending and powerful statements from the victims today, who vividly described the impact of Brand the sexual predator on their lives.
"Today is a day for them to have finally achieved justice. However, while many will see today’s sentence as just and fair, I do not think this is the last we will hear from Russell Brand and his legal team," he added.
Brand's victims spoke out at the sentencing hearing
The Get Him to the Greek actor's brave victims read out several impact statements to the court before he was sentenced.
According to reports, Brand showed little emotion when he was told how many years he will spend behind bars, aside from mouthing the words "I love you" and "we will be OK" to his wife, Laura Gallacher, who was visibly distressed.
Brand's father, Ron Brand, appeared shaken by the length of the sentence. When asked how his son would cope in prison, Ron said: "Yeah, he's strong, he's strong."
Asked how his daughter-in-law would cope without her husband, he responded: "She's strong as well."
Ron also stirred controversy with his response when a reporter asked whether he had a message for his son's victims.
"The victims, what victims? What, Russell?" he said.
After the reporter said she meant "his victims," he continued: "The girls you mean, who chased and harassed him."