British comedian Russell Brand, 51, was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assaults against four women between 2004 and 2009, SCMP reported from British coverage. Judge Joel Bennathan called him a “sexual predator” who acted with “staggering arrogance.”

At Southwark Crown Court, Brand received nine years for the 2009 anal rape of a 21-year-old fan at his London home, plus consecutive terms of 18, 9 and 8 months for three sexual assaults from 2004–2009. He will serve two-thirds, then be released on licence, and must register as a sex offender.

Bennathan said fame protected Brand until 2023, when journalists published the allegations. Victims suffered “significant and lasting harm.” Brand was cleared of two further rape counts and one attempted indecent assault.

In mitigation, the judge noted no significant prior convictions and the 17 years since the last offence, including work helping people with addictions, but cut the rape term by only a year given the gravity.

“Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice,” Bennathan said.

Verdicts followed a four-week trial; Brand showed no emotion as the sentence was read, court reports said.

Image: Inner London Crown Court (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0).

Sources consulted: Disgraced star Russell Brand jailed for over 10 years for rape, sexual assault — SCMP.