British comedian and media personality Russell Brand was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and six months in prison following his conviction for multiple sexual offences, including rape.
Last week, a jury found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four different women, committed between 2004 and 2009. The victims included an MTV worker, a Channel 4 worker, a Capital Radio employee, and a fan he met at a show. Brand was cleared of three other charges, though London police confirmed that ongoing investigations into additional allegations remain active.
During the sentencing proceedings, victims delivered powerful impact statements detailing the lasting trauma caused by the assaults and the power imbalance created by Brand's widespread celebrity. Following the announcement of the total sentence, Brand was led down to the cells.
