London’s Metropolitan Police are investigating new criminal allegations against disgraced comedian and convicted rapist Russell Brand as more women come forward with claims of sexual misconduct and rape.
On Tuesday, Brand was sentenced to more than a decade in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. Justice Joel Bennathan denounced the 51-year-old’s “casual and arrogant disregard” towards any woman who said no to him, and the series of lies he told in testimony denying assaults that dated back to 2004.
Since the sentencing, six women have come forward in an investigation by London’s The Times .
One woman alleges Brand had sex with her without her consent and without a condom, then apologised after the alleged attack. Another woman said Brand continued to have sex with her despite her asking him to stop because it was hurting her.
“My body wasn’t ready for this, and it was painful,” she said, recalling the alleged incident to The Times . “An uneasy wave hits me, and I’m scared. And I say, ‘It’s painful,’ and he doesn’t stop. And then it gets worse, and it’s really painful. And I say, ‘Stop,’ and he doesn’t stop.”
She alleges Brand later told her that “tonight was consensual. Nobody did anything they didn’t want to do.” Brand’s representatives did not respond to the new allegations.
Meanwhile, London police said several people also contacted them following Brand’s trial and sentencing “to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation”, according to the BBC .
Brand was already under investigation for two other alleged rapes during the trial, one involving a then-16-year-old girl.
The actor-comedian, known for outrageous stand-up routines and behaviour on television and radio, as well as battles with drugs and alcohol, had maintained his innocence and testified that all his encounters were consensual.
A jury of eight men and four women found him guilty of attacking four of six complainants . He was cleared of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
“About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous,” Justice Bennathan said. “You were clever – and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.
“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 conviction, as well as his fresh allegations and police investigation, has spotlighted the behaviour of prominent men towards young, impressionable women.
A Guardian and ITV investigation this week named British comedian and author David Walliams as the high-profile person alleged to have preyed on and groomed young women and teenagers for sex, following an attempted injunction.
In that reporting, numerous women allege Walliams had initiated sexual relationships with them when they were very young and fans of him.
Walliams has vigorously denied the allegations.
Support is available from Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 and Lifeline on 13 11 14, and from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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