Russell Brand mouthed a message to his wife Laura as he entered the dock to receive his sentence on Monday (9 November).
The 51-year-old was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault last week and will today find out his fate at Southwark Crown Court.
His wife Laura Gallacher has been seated in the public gallery throughout his four-week trial, and ahead of Brand’s sentencing, the couple issued a message to one another.
Brand has spent the last four nights in HMP Wandsworth since he was convicted at Southwark Crown Court last week.
A jury found him guilty of raping a woman in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009.
Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher (left) arriving at Southwark Crown Court ahead of the sentencing (Jordan Pettitt/Press Association)
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the bravery shown by the women who reported brand will ‘change the system’, while he vowed to take a ‘relentless’ approach to providing more support for victims.
The court is expected to hear victim impact statements and legal submissions from the lawyers before handing down Brand’s sentence this afternoon.
As he entered the dock, Brand turned to his wife Gallacher in the public gallery and mouthed: “It’ll be okay, I don’t know how, but it will.”
Gallacher said, ‘Oh God’, as she saw Brand enter the dock, before telling him: “I love you.”
The shamed former comedian was also seen holding a crucifix, performing a cross with his hand, and saying a prayer as one of his victims entered court to deliver a victim impact statement.
(Ben Montgomery/Getty Images)
What his victim said
One woman delivered powerful testimony explaining how she had been left ‘traumatised’ by her experience with Brand.
Speaking from behind a curtain to protect her anonymity, she told the court: “It really affected how I viewed myself, I didn’t have any respect for myself and got into situations with toxic men as I didn’t have any self-worth.
“I literally lost any love for myself for a long time thinking that I was damaged goods.”
She recalled it being ‘impossible’ to escape seeing Brand all over the media over the years ‘being celebrated for his disgusting behaviour against women like it was all a joke’.
“There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around think he can get away with anything,” she continued
“Over the years I tried not to think about it and get on with my life – I had a beautiful daughter who helped me to heal and learn to love myself again and to try and be the best mum in the world for her.”
Brand was cleared of two further charges of rape and one allegation of attempted indecent assault last week.
‘Horrifying’ crimes
The disgraced actor has denied all of the charges against him and claimed he had only ever had consensual sex while he was leading a ‘promiscuous’ lifestyle.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said his officers are braced for “many, many more” possible victims of Brand to come forward, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham called Brand’s crimes “horrifying”.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy warned there has not been enough change in media organisations to stop celebrities like Brand from preying on women.
“We need far more robust processes in place to protect women like the women who bravely came forward in the Russell Brand case to make sure that they are protected and treated seriously,” she said.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
Leave a Reply