During the four-week trial Brand’s defence team argued that every encounter had been consensual and that the women had later reimagined events after the 2023 media reports. Brand himself told the jury that consent was fundamental and that he had never engaged in non-consensual activity. The jury of eight men and four women rejected that account on four counts after deliberating more than eight hours, convicting him of one rape and three Sєxual ᴀssaults while acquitting him of two further rapes and one attempted indecent ᴀssault.

Evidence presented in court included details of how Brand stored women’s names in his phone. One entry used the letter “T” for “tart”, “AP” for anal play, and asterisks meaning “never, ever forget this individual”. Prosecutors said this reflected a pattern of treating women as a means to an end. Victims described him switching abruptly from charm to aggression, then gaslighting them afterwards into believing nothing wrong had occurred. One ᴀssault took place in front of his entourage at a radio station; another occurred while he was working on a Channel 4 project.

Brand had pleaded not guilty to all seven charges, which spanned allegations involving six women between 1999 and 2009. After the guilty verdicts on Thursday he was immediately remanded in custody. Judge Bennathan told him a significant custodial sentence was inevitable. On Monday the same judge described him as a Sєxual predator who displayed staggering arrogance and a casual disregard for any woman’s right to say no.

Character references and arguments about Brand’s later religious conversion, addiction work and family life were considered but given limited weight. The judge reduced the rape sentence by one year for mitigating factors but rejected the claim that the offences were isolated incidents. He noted that Brand’s status had shielded him for more than a decade until the Times and Channel 4 investigations.

Brand showed little emotion as the sentence was pᴀssed. He had appeared to pray with a crucifix while listening to the victim statements. His wife Laura Gallacher was present throughout; he mouthed reᴀssurance to her before being taken to the cells. Police confirmed that investigations into further allegations continue.