Police investigating Russell Brand have confirmed that several additional people have contacted detectives with information about the comedian and actor.
Brand, 51, was sentenced yesterday to more than ten years in prison after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others in cases dating from 2004 to 2009.
Following his conviction last week, it emerged that detectives were already examining two further rape allegations against him. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also said he believed more people could come forward.
The Metropolitan Police said today that information had been received from “several people” during and after the trial.
A force spokesman said: “Several people have contacted the investigation team during and since the trial to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation.
“Detectives are assessing this information as part of their ongoing enquiries.”
Brand’s former girlfriend Jemima Goldsmith, 52, became the latest woman to speak publicly last night, accusing him of “violence, coercive control and abuse”.
She said she was so frightened after what she described as a “violent incident” in 2014 that she called police and asked them to remove him from her £15million home in the Cotswolds.
Brand pictured with his wife at Southwark Crown Court last Thursday, shortly before he was convicted
Laura Gallacher mouths “I love you” to Brand as he waves while being taken to the cells, after the court heard she continued to support him
Brand showed no visible emotion during yesterday’s sentencing, when the judge said he had used his fame to prey on women and acted as though his celebrity status allowed him to ignore the standards expected of decent people.
From the dock, Brand appeared to blink in disbelief as he was told he would serve at least seven years of a ten-and-a-half-year sentence for attacks on four women between 2004 and 2009.
He could now face a second trial as police assess a series of new allegations. Prosecutors are expected to decide within weeks whether he should be charged over two further alleged rapes, one involving a 16-year-old.
Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand that he had displayed a “casual arrogant disregard to any woman’s right to say no to you”. He said: “About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes you were funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.”
The judge condemned Brand’s “staggering arrogance” and his apparent belief that his public status protected him. He also criticised Brand’s decision to attack journalists after they first reported allegations against him in 2023.
He further criticised members of Brand’s entourage, saying they had enabled “dreadful behaviour” after some assaults occurred in front of staff who either laughed or failed to intervene.
The judge praised the victims for their “determination and bravery”.
“All those women had to face being confronted and being told they had lied, or twisted the truth and, or, they had agreed to your sexual demands: that was all done because of you, on your instructions,” he said.
Mr Justice Bennathan also rejected rape myths raised during the trial, after Brand’s defence barrister faced criticism for citing stereotypes that questioned why the women had not screamed, kicked or slapped him.
The judge said: “Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent.”
Brand’s barrister, Mr Winter, was paid approximately £1million for the defence, according to legal sources who spoke to Our News Outlet.
It is understood that the fraud specialist was brought in after several prominent female barristers declined to represent Brand.
The decision later proved controversial. Mr Winter is facing an investigation by the Bar Standards Board after directing an expletive-laden outburst at the journalist whose reporting helped expose the allegations, telling her after the verdict that she had “f****d” justice.
Andy Burnham has since promised to pursue changes to the law, saying he would be “relentless in making whatever improvements” are needed to strengthen support for victims.
During the sentencing hearing, Mr Winter argued that Brand had been unfairly depicted as a “monster”. He urged the judge to view the offences as a “short, momentary total failure” to respect a woman’s consent.
Despite Brand’s rape conviction, the barrister drew criticism in court when he argued that his client should not be sentenced as someone who was, in broad terms, “a rapist”, as he had been portrayed during the previous four days.
Brand is expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence before being released on licence.
He is also expected to discuss a possible appeal with his lawyers, although legal sources have warned that the jury’s mixed verdicts could make an appeal difficult to pursue.
Brand was convicted of rape and three sexual assaults, but acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
One source said: “In a way it would have been easier for Winter if there had been a clean sweep of guilty verdicts, at least then he could have argued that Brand did not get a fair trial because of the Channel 4 Dispatches and Sunday Times investigation.
A courtroom sketch shows Brand in front, with his wife on the left, his father Ron on the right and his bodyguard behind him during sentencing
“The mixed verdicts show the jury reached their verdicts on the facts, regardless of the media attention, which makes an appeal very tricky.”
After the sentence was handed down, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy urged anyone who believes they may have been affected by Brand to contact police.
He said: “I want to make a direct appeal to anyone who has been a victim of rape or any other sexual offence.
“We know it can take enormous courage to speak about what has happened to you, no matter how long ago it occurred or who was responsible.
“If you come forward, you will be listened to, supported and treated with care and compassion.”
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