Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court. The 51-year-old comedian and former television presenter received his sentence on Monday, 9 November, following a four-week trial.

Brand was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others in offences committed between 2004 and 2009. The jury acquitted him of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. He denied the allegations, maintaining that all his sexual encounters were consensual.

PHOTO: REUTERS/Jack Taylor/File Photo/File Photo

Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced Brand to nine years for rape and 18 months for the sexual assault offences. The sentences for the three assaults will run concurrently, while the rape sentence will run consecutively, bringing the total to 10 years and six months.

During sentencing, Bennathan described Brand as a “sexual predator” and criticised his “staggering arrogance”. The judge said Brand’s growing fame had protected him for years, allowing him to exploit his position and pursue women without regard for their wishes. He also stressed that women retain the right to refuse sex regardless of what they wear, where they go or what they drink.

The court heard victim impact statements from the four women whose cases resulted in convictions. Their accounts detailed the lasting effects of the assaults, including anxiety, damaged self-esteem and difficulties with relationships.

Photo: AP

One woman, who delivered her statement from behind a screen, described how the assault affected her confidence and left her feeling like “damaged goods”. She said she had struggled with her self-worth and felt vulnerable in social situations for years.

The woman Brand was convicted of raping in 2009 was 21 at the time. She told the court that the attack affected her ability to sleep, eat and manage her emotions. She also described the impact on her career and personal relationships.

Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, argued that his client was a fundamentally different person from the man he had been when the offences occurred. The defence also highlighted his lack of relevant previous convictions and charitable work supporting people with addiction. These arguments did not prevent the judge from imposing an immediate prison sentence.

Brand is expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before release on licence. He will also be subject to lifelong notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Photo: Getty Images

The convictions followed investigations launched after allegations about Brand became public in 2023. Police are also investigating two further rape allegations against him, which remain separate from the convictions.

Brand first became prominent through British stand-up comedy, radio and television before building an international acting career. His film credits include Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and Arthur. He was married to American singer Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.

The sentencing concludes the criminal proceedings concerning the four convicted offences, although police investigations into the separate allegations continue.

Prince George has made his first public appearance since starting at Eton College, joining his father, Prince William, for an Aston Villa match against FC Barcelona in Spain.

The 13-year-old travelled to Barcelona on Tuesday, November 3, during his school holiday to watch the Champions League fixture at Spotify Camp Nou. The outing marked his first public sighting since beginning boarding school in September, when the Prince and Princess of Wales accompanied him to Eton.

William and George watched from the directors’ box as Aston Villa faced the Spanish side in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase. Both support the Birmingham-based club, making the trip an opportunity for the father and son to watch their team play in one of Europe’s biggest club competitions.

Photo: FC Barcelona

Barcelona president Joan Laporta welcomed the royal visitors before kick-off, presenting William and George with personalised FC Barcelona shirts. The club also acknowledged their attendance in a post on its official social media account, welcoming the Prince of Wales and his eldest son to the stadium.

Photographs from the evening showed George wearing a hooded jacket as rain fell over the stadium. William also dressed casually in a dark jacket and cap. The pair watched the match from the directors’ box, where several former Barcelona players were also present.

Their visit did not produce the result they would have wanted. Barcelona defeated Aston Villa 3-0, with Lamine Yamal scoring in the seventh minute before Raphinha added two goals in the second half. The defeat ended Villa’s winning start to the Champions League campaign after three consecutive victories.

Photo: Getty Images

William’s support for Aston Villa dates back to his school years. In a 2015 interview with the BBC, he explained that he became interested in football while at school, when many of his friends supported Manchester United or Chelsea. He wanted to support a different club and was attracted to Villa’s history, the atmosphere among its supporters and the prospect of following a team that did not always win.

His interest in the club has also influenced his children’s exposure to football. William has previously spoken about watching matches with George and his younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. However, he has made clear that he does not expect them all to support Aston Villa, saying he hopes they will eventually choose their own teams.

George’s appearance in Spain came during Eton’s first long leave of the academic year, which began on October 23. He started at the Berkshire boarding school in September, following his father’s footsteps. William attended Eton from 1995 to 2000, while Prince Harry also studied there.

Photo: Getty Images

Before George’s return home for the school break, the Princess of Wales spoke about missing her eldest child. During an appearance in Hoveton, Norfolk, on October 22, Kate told a woman she met that she was looking forward to George coming home. The woman later shared that the Princess had said she missed him.

The Barcelona trip gave George time away from his new school and an opportunity to watch Aston Villa alongside William. Although the club suffered a 3-0 defeat, the match provided a public glimpse of the young prince during his first extended break since beginning his education at Eton.

Rich Paul has reignited speculation about his marital status with Adele after referring to the singer as his wife in a new video. The comment has prompted fresh questions about whether the couple have already married privately, although neither has announced a wedding.

The 45-year-old sports agent appeared in a video shared by The Media Haus Co. on October 25, taking part in a challenge to find as many words as possible in a 60-second word search. During the exchange, interviewer Rel Tait asked Paul when he last completed one.

“It’s been a while. But my wife do ’em every day, every morning,” he replied, apparently referring to Adele.

Paul did not elaborate on the remark, leaving the couple’s marriage status unclear.

Photo: Getty Images

The pair have been romantically linked since 2021, when they were first spotted together at an NBA Finals game. Their relationship became public shortly afterwards, although both have largely kept details of their private life away from the media.

Adele had previously fuelled marriage rumours during her Las Vegas residency in September 2023, when she referred to Paul as her husband while discussing his interest in American football. She also made headlines after responding to a fan who asked her to marry them by indicating that she was already spoken for.

Photo: Getty Images

In August 2024, Adele gave the strongest indication yet that marriage was on the cards when she confirmed their engagement during a performance in Munich, Germany. A fan had held up a sign asking the singer to marry them. Adele responded that she could not because she was already getting married, before showing off her engagement ring.

Despite confirming their engagement, neither Adele nor Paul has publicly announced a wedding or shared details of a marriage ceremony.

Paul’s latest comment has added to the speculation, but it does not confirm that the couple have legally married. Whether they have exchanged vows privately remains unknown.