Prosecutors have argued for a sentencing range of 10 to 15 years in prison for Russell Brand’s rape conviction, with a starting point of 12 years. According to The Guardian’s coverage of the sentencing hearing on 9 November, the prosecution also set out its submissions on sentences for sexual assaults. As of the report’s 11:59 GMT update, the court had not yet announced a sentence.
Brand was previously found guilty of rape and sexual assaults. The hearing therefore concerns the punishment for those offences, rather than whether he committed them.
According to The Guardian’s live coverage, prosecutors argued that the rape offence should fall within a sentencing category carrying a range of 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment. The proposed 12-year starting point is a basis for determining the sentence, not a punishment already imposed by the judge. For the individual sexual assault offences, the prosecution sought prison terms ranging from one to four years.
In support of its submissions, the prosecution pointed to serious psychological harm suffered by the victims. The court heard victim impact statements describing how the offences had affected their lives. One woman addressed the court in person, while a prosecution representative read the other statements.
Judge Joel Bennathan said he intended to announce the sentence at 14:00 UK time, after considering both sides’ submissions. The ranges put forward by prosecutors remain their arguments to the court: they should not be added together or treated as the final sentence.
