In a stunning downfall for one of Britain’s most controversial entertainers, comedian and actor Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court.
The 51-year-old former Hollywood star, best known for films including Get Him to the Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, was convicted Thursday by a jury following allegations involving four women between 2004 and 2009.
Brand, who was once married to pop superstar Katy Perry, denied the charges, maintaining that his sexual encounters were consensual. The jury, however, found him guilty on four counts. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one attempted indecent assault charge.
The verdict marks a spectacular fall from grace for the outspoken comedian, who transformed himself from a popular British television and radio personality into a Hollywood star before reinventing himself as an online commentator and religious personality.
The judge denied Brand bail following the verdict and indicated that he faces a significant prison sentence. He is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, November 9.
The case has also prompted renewed questions about celebrity power, accountability and the treatment of women in the entertainment industry. Police say they believe there may be additional victims and are continuing to investigate other allegations against the comedian.
For Brand, the verdict represents one of the most dramatic celebrity scandals in recent British entertainment history.