Actor and comedian Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN

London (CNN) — British actor, comedian and media personality Russell Brand faces a lengthy prison sentence after he was found guilty in a London court on Thursday of raping a young fan and sexually assaulting three women.

Brand, 51, was convicted of raping the fan in 2009 after they met at one of his shows in west London. He was also found guilty of groping an MTV worker at a bar in central London in 2004, kissing and groping another woman at her workplace in 2005 and sexually assaulting another woman in 2009 when she was forced to give him a massage.

At Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, a jury of eight men and four women cleared the star of two separate charges of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault, after deliberating for around eight and a half hours.

Speaking after the verdicts were delivered, judge Joel Bennathan said the case was “very well prepared,” according to Britain’s Press Association, adding that sentencing would take place on Monday.

Brand, who stood straight in the dock as the verdicts were revealed and closed his eyes as he heard he was found guilty of rape, has been remanded in custody. “The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term,” Bennathan said.

Brand “used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women,” London’s Metropolitan Police Service said following the comedian’s conviction.

“As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be,” Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said in a statement.

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CNN’s Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.