Russell Brand trial latest: Police release video of actor being interviewed after he is found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults

Russell Brand trial latest: Police release video of actor being interviewed after he is found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults By REBECCA CAMBER, CRIME AND SECURITY EDITOR and MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER and PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Updated: Read our liveblog recap from Russell Brand's trial at Southwark Crown Court VIDEO - Russell Brand is interviewed by Metropolitan Police Here is the first video of Russell Brand being interviewed by the Metropolitan Police on July 17 last year: Exclusive:The Trial Podcast - Why were women who accused Russell Brand in Channel 4 documentary not involved in his rape trial? In an exclusive episode of the Daily Mail's The Trial podcast, brought to you by The Crime Desk, award-winning crime reporters Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull sit down with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, of the Met's Complex Sexual Offences Unit. DI Nelson managed the police team that investigated comedian turned wellness guru Russell Brand, 51, who was today found guilty of raping a woman, along with a string of sexual assaults spanning a decade. After praising the 'six incredible women' whose evidence helped convict Brand, DI Nelson revealed why the women who accused him in the 2023 Channel 4 documentary and Times investigation were never part of the case. The documentary's release sparked the Met's investigation, prompting a number of women to come forward and help build the police case against the celebrity. Allegations made in the documentary did not form part of the trial, and the jury was told to disregard them when reaching its verdicts. 'We have got to respect a victim's choice to report to the police,' DI Nelson explained. Brand's crimes show how celebrities can 'act with impunity' - women's charity The rape and sexual assaults committed by Russell Brand 'demonstrate how perpetrators in the public eye are often able to act with impunity', a women’s charity has warned. Brand, now 51, preyed on women he encountered while becoming one of Britain’s best-known stand-up comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood movie star. He used his fame to pursue a goal of sex with 5,000 women, forcing victims into sexual activity, sometimes within seconds of them first meeting. After jurors found him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, charities highlighted how entertainment and media industry cultures can contribute to high-profile figures’ offending. Deniz Ugur, deputy director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said the 'incredibly difficult' challenge of reporting rape and sexual assault to the police can be 'heightened when the perpetrator has a significant amount of wealth and status and a network of power'. She added: What we see with powerful perpetrators is that there are often others around them which enable abuse or are complicit in it through cultures of silence. These institutional cultures are found across the entertainment industry, media and beyond, and prevent survivors from accessing justice. Perpetrators with power, wealth and status are often able to weaponise the law to silence survivors and even the media, through legal threats and NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). 'Brand lawyer's explosion at journalist was reprehensible' - Sunday Times editor Ben Taylor, editor of The Sunday Times, has described the behaviour of Russell Brand's barrister after the verdict as 'reprehensible'. Ian Winter KC on his way out of court launched a tirade at Rosamund Urwin, The Sunday Times's chief reporter, whose investigation in 2023 led to Brand's victims coming forward. Winter told Ms Urwin: 'I hope you are pleased with yourself,' to which she responded: 'I’m pleased justice has been done.' He fired back: 'Well, it wasn’t. You f***** it.' The barrister had claimed that the publication of the allegations against Brand meant he could not have a fair trial. The judge disagreed, ruling that the jury could be made up of people who had not seen the 2023 media reporting. Speaking on Times Radio this afternoon, Mr Taylor said: I found what Mr. Winter did quite extraordinary. I have never seen or heard of a barrister behaving in this way. There’s a really serious point here, which is that it was not Ros who found Russell Brand guilty at Southwark Crown Court. It was a jury of eight men and four women who have sat through this case. They’ve listened to the evidence, they’ve listened to the defence, and they have gone away and they’ve come back with some very considered verdicts. By impugning Ros’ integrity, what Mr Winter is doing – and he should really be called to account for this – he’s impugning the integrity of the entire case. He’s impugning the integrity of a jury, a system that we support massively at The Sunday Times, and we have actually campaigned to protect, who have sat there solemnly and done their duty, and the judge who oversaw the case and everybody else involved. I think what he did was reprehensible. Pictured below: Ian Winter KC Media organisations thank victims for their bravery Allegations of sexual misconduct against Russell Brand were first published in 2023 in a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and The Times and The Sunday Times. Reacting to today's verdict, Louise Compton, director of news, digital and audience trust at Channel 4, said: The outcome of the Russell Brand trial belongs to all of the women who had the courage to speak out – all of those who participated in the criminal process and those different women who shared their testimony in the original Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times and The Times investigation. The trial heard that women involved in the criminal case came forward after seeing the Channel 4 Dispatches film. It is a powerful demonstration of why fearless, independent, investigative journalism in the public interest matters. We remain profoundly grateful to every woman who trusted the Channel 4 reporting team. Meanwhile, a spokesman for The Times and The Sunday Times said: Today’s verdict is a testament to the courage of the women who came forward and informed The Times’ and The Sunday Times’ investigative reporting. The joint investigation with Channel 4’s Dispatches was made in commitment to responsible, public interest journalism holding power and institutions to account. Many women who bravely took part in this investigation did not have their cases brought before a court. Their contributions were vital in bringing these issues to light, and our commitment remains with everyone who found the courage to share their experiences. BBC reacts to the verdict The BBC, which previously employed Russel Brand, and received complaints about his conduct, said after the verdict: Firstly, the thoughts of everyone at the BBC are with the brave women who came forward and told their stories which led to a conviction in this case. There can be no place for the abuse of power. Across the industry, we must work together to ensure that anyone who suffers at someone else’s hand feels able to report it, that their concerns are taken seriously and that they are listened to. We published a detailed report in January 2025 into how complaints about Russell Brand’s conduct were handled. This looked at eight allegations of misconduct while he worked here between 2006 and 2008. It was of great concern to us that some people felt unable to raise concerns about Brand’s behaviour. We apologised to those impacted, for both the culture and failings at the time, and we reiterate that apology again today. VIDEO - Russell Brand case 'watershed' point to laddish noughties culture 'Hold on to Jesus, Russell', man shouts as van leaves court A man was heard shouting 'hold on to Jesus, Russell' as a large Serco van left Southwark Crown Court. The man also shouted: 'Hold on to Jesus, warrior.' Members of the public and the press watched on as the van left the court building shortly after 4.30pm. Why Russell Brand could face further criminal charges Russell Brand has been accused of raping two more women and could now face further criminal charges, it was revealed this afternoon. Brand, now 51, was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009, after a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. It can now be reported that more women came forward to police after Brand was first accused, and prosecutors are assessing whether to bring further charges. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that investigations are ongoing into two allegations of rape made against Brand. At pre-trial court hearings, it was revealed that one of the complaints comes from a woman who dated Brand when he was 30 years old and she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl. A police spokesperson said: 'The Met's investigation into allegations of rape made by two women remains ongoing. The suspect has previously been interviewed under caution in connection with the allegations. 'Files have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to both complainants. Detectives remain in close contact with prosecutors as inquiries continue and further investigative work is carried out.' The spectre of further charges was raised in court hearings in March and May, when Brand's legal team sought assurances that new charges would not be brought shortly before the trial took place. 'There may be additional complainants in this case,' said defence barrister Ian Winter KC. 'That may have an impact on the argument the defence wishes to run.' At the May hearing, Mr Justice Bennathan set out that there are two new accusers, and prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC confirmed they 'would not seek to join any further complainants to this trial'. Court experience will have been 're-traumatising' for victims Domestic abuse charity Refuge welcomed the convictions in the Russell Brand trial but said the court experience will have been 're-traumatising' for victims. A spokesperson for the charity said: 'The sickening crimes committed by Russell Brand demonstrate how perpetrators in the public eye are often able to act with impunity – with devastating consequences for the survivors affected. 'Many women do not report abuse due to an understandable lack of confidence in the justice system. 'Reporting takes an enormous amount of strength, and yet all too often survivors are met with victim-blaming, dismissal, and damaging accusations of 'false claims' – compounding the horrific harms they have experienced. 'It is deeply troubling that professionals in the justice system continue to perpetuate harmful myths about abuse. 'The idea that a delay in reporting, or the fact that a survivor did not physically resist an assault, should undermine their testimony is a horrific form of victim-blaming, rooted in dangerous myths about sexual violence. 'These narratives misrepresent the real dynamics of abuse, and the complex reasons why survivors may delay coming forward or not fight back, and we cannot allow them to be legitimised under the guise of legal argument. The consequences for survivors are devastating, and the stakes could not be higher. ' The Courts and Tribunals Bill is currently being considered by peers in the House of Lords. Sex-obsessed dad who sparked Brand's twisted compulsions Here's a third special report - this time from the Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff who looks at Russell Brand's sex-obsessed father. Ron Brand paid for a prostitute for his 17-year-old son, sparking his lifelong quest to use and abuse women. Read more in Alison's article here: Rape myths are 'horrific form of victim-blaming' and 'appalling' Charities have described rape myths as a 'horrific form of victim-blaming' and 'appalling', saying such a line of questioning reflects a 'fundamental misunderstanding of trauma'. Deniz Ugur, deputy director of the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) coalition, said: 'It is really appalling to see defence lawyers intentionally lean into a whole range of tired tropes and myths about rape. 'Rape is always about a perpetrator choosing to abuse power. There are many reasons why rape victims do not and cannot 'fight back'.' Ms Ugur said it can be an automatic response to 'freeze' in fear, adding: 'When a perpetrator has, or is perceived to have, a significant amount of power, this dynamic can be heightened.' She added: 'Rape myths like the ones we've seen in this case have no place in the courtroom.' Amelia Handy, head of policy and public affairs at Rape Crisis England and Wales, said rape is 'treated with exceptionalism in the criminal justice system – with no other type of crime is the victim so intensely scrutinised or blamed'. She added: 'Whilst the police and CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) have acknowledged how rape myths and stereotypes impact investigations and case-building, too often we see them deployed by barristers in the courtroom. 'Misconceptions about rape and sexual abuse remain deeply embedded in wider society. As a cross-section of society, juries won't be immune to these ideas either. 'Too often, attention shifts away from the actions of the accused and onto the credibility and behaviour of the complainant. 'Questions such as 'why didn't you fight back?' or 'why didn't you scream?' reinforce myths about what rape looks like and how a victim is expected to behave.' She added: 'Whether someone fought back, and whether they reported immediately, are not indicators of whether an offence occurred. 'They reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of trauma, fear and human survival responses, and risk reinforcing harmful myths rather than helping establish the facts.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.