Russell Brand Investigated Over Two More Rape Claims After Guilty Verdict

Photo: Dawn Images

London police are now investigating two more rape complaints against Russell Brand, just a day after a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault. The head of the Metropolitan Police says he would not be surprised if many more women come forward. Brand, 51, spent his first night in a cell and will be sentenced on Monday.

The two new cases came to light on Friday, when the Metropolitan Police confirmed that detectives are still working on complaints made by two women. Brand has already been interviewed under caution about them, and police have sent files to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether any further charges follow.

One of the complaints comes from a woman who says she dated Brand when she was 16 and he was 30. She has spoken in public under the name Alice, telling BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour that he called her "The Child" and left her feeling exploited. The details first came out at court hearings in March and May, but the jury in the trial was not asked to rule on them.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met commissioner, spoke about the two cases on BBC Breakfast on Friday morning. "There's two more cases we're investigating at the moment," he said. "I clearly wouldn't be surprised if many more came forward." It was a plain warning that this case may not be over yet.

The detective who led the three-year investigation said he hoped the verdict would give other women the courage to speak. "Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women," Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said after the verdicts. The Met also praised the "extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward".

Brand was found guilty on Thursday at Southwark Crown Court of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women, for offences between 2004 and 2009. The jury cleared him of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. He was sent to prison at once and told by the judge to expect a long term in jail when he is sentenced on Monday.

The case in numbers:

• Guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults, against four women, for offences from 2004 to 2009
• Cleared of two more rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault
• Two new rape complaints now under investigation, with files already sent to prosecutors
• Three-year police inquiry, with more than 340 witness statements taken

The claims against Brand first surfaced in September 2023, when The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches reported that four women accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. Police then opened an inquiry they called Operation Actinolite. Brand has denied wrongdoing throughout and says his sexual relationships were consensual.

After the verdicts, the BBC apologised again for what it called the "culture and failings" of the years when Brand worked there, between 2006 and 2008. Brand once worked for the BBC, Channel 4 and MTV, and the companies have faced questions in recent years about a culture that let his behaviour go unchecked.

The two new complaints are only allegations for now, and no fresh charges have been confirmed. But they matter because they show how a guilty verdict can open the door to more cases. PakInsight Hub has also covered the week's other big court and election stories, from the former Malaysian prime minister's move to house arrest to the Democrats' big win in the US midterms.

Sources

• The Express Tribune: Russell Brand faces investigation over two further rape allegations after guilty verdict
• Dawn Images: London police chief says he expects 'many more' accusations of sexual misconduct against Russell Brand
• AAP: Police chief expects more Brand accusers to speak out
• Radio NewsHub: Russell Brand being investigated over two new rape complaints

Brand returns to court on Monday for sentencing, and prosecutors will then decide whether the two new complaints lead to further charges.

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