British comedian and Hollywood actor Russell Brand will spend 10 years and six months in prison after a court sentenced him for rape and sexual assault.
The sentence came on Monday, four days after a jury found him guilty of attacking four women between 2004 and 2009.
Brand, 51, raped one woman and sexually assaulted three others during the period. He had denied all the charges.
However, eight men and four women on the jury found him guilty of four of the six allegations. They cleared him of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
During sentencing, Joel Bennathan, the presiding judge, condemned Brand’s “casual and arrogant disregard” for women’s right to refuse him.
“About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous,” Bennathan said.
“You were clever – and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.”
Brand rose to fame in Britain as a comedian and broadcaster before building a career in Hollywood. He featured in several films, including the 2008 romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
In the film, he played Aldous Snow, a rock star and boyfriend of the title character, portrayed by Kristen Bell.
He later starred in Get Him to the Greek and Arthur, further establishing his presence in Hollywood.
The comedian, who was previously married to American pop singer Katy Perry, also received three British Comedy Awards during his career. He earned a nomination for a BAFTA Award.
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