Russell Brand guilty of rape, more victims urged to come forward

Brand found guilty on four counts

Russell Brand, 51, was convicted of raping a fan and sexually assaulting three women over five years at the height of his career.He was cleared of two further rape counts and one attempted indecent assault.

Trial lasted four weeks at Southwark

The trial took place at Southwark crown court. Brand was found guilty on Thursday after the four-week hearing concluded.

Two more rape investigations underway

Brand is under investigation for two further rape allegations. The Metropolitan police has submitted files to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to both complainants.

Civil claim over Los Angeles assault

Brand has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his mansion in Los Angeles in 2008, in a civil claim filed at the high court in London.

Massive police investigation detailed

Operation Actinolite involved tracing and speaking to more than one hundred witnesses, reviewing more than one thousand four hundred documents and taking more than three hundred forty statements.

Detective calls Brand a predator

Det Supt Andy Furphy, the Metropolitan police's strategic lead, described Brand as a predator whose behaviour escalated as his fame grew. He said Brand abused his celebrity status to assault women.

“Russell Brand is a predator. He preys on women and commits serious sexual offences against them.”

Furphy urges more victims to come forward

After the conviction, Furphy said police believed there could be more victims and urged them to report crimes. He said convictions tend to encourage other people to come forward.

“If you've been affected by the case, if Russell Brand has committed a crime against you, rape or serious sexual violence or a sex assault, whatever it might be, and you haven't spoken to police yet, then come forward.”

Our work's not done, detective says

Furphy told the Guardian the investigation was continuing. He said we have a live investigation and our work's not done, appealing for women to come forward if they had anything to report.

“We have a live investigation. Our work's not done.”

Brand's public commentary took toll

Brand gave interviews to Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Piers Morgan before trial and continued podcasting throughout. Furphy said this had taken a toll on the women who gave evidence against him.

Civil claim seeks up to one hundred thousand pounds

A woman pursuing civil proceedings in London claims Brand forcibly removed her dress, shoes and underwear and attempted to perform oral sex on her against her will.

Woman reported assault after criminal trial

The woman said she felt traumatised by Brand's rage when she refused to submit to him sexually and feared her safety would be at risk if she pursued a criminal complaint.

Case may be watershed moment for victims

Furphy said the case may be a watershed moment in inspiring a wave of other victims of sexual offences to come forward. He suggested there may be other victims regarding other people from that period.