Russell Brand victims impact statements at sentencing, Digi Mart USA News (London, United Kingdom): Victims of Russell Brand have described the “trauma” and “turmoil” they have been forced to endure every day, as they cope with the aftermath of his actions years later.
Brand, 51, has spent the last four nights in HMP Wandsworth, before being brought back to court on Monday to be sentenced by Mr Justice Bennathan. The former comedian and actor was found guilty on Thursday at Southwark Crown Court of raping a woman in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009.
A four-week trial heard how Brand preyed on women he encountered on his way to becoming one of Britain’s best-known comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood actor who was briefly married to singer Katy Perry. He claimed to have only ever had consensual sex during a “promiscuous” life, but his victims told a different story.
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. Brand’s father, Ronald Brand, is also in court as part of Brand’s nine-strong entourage.
The court first heard a victim impact statement from a woman who was sexually assaulted by Brand in a Soho bar in 2004. The victim, who delivered her statement live in court from behind a protective curtain, said: “I wanted to express how this crime has affected me over the years.
When it happened, I was in complete shock and turmoil for weeks trying to process what had happened to me.”
“I was extremely upset and traumatised. 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.”
The victim told the court that the “shame” was “carried around inside with me for 20 years” even “when I was trying to compartmentalise and get on with my life.” She concluded her statement by saying: “I felt like my life was on hold for all of that time waiting my time to speak out about what happened to me.”
She closed with something she said she had “read the other day”: “As they say a leopard may change its spots but at the end of the day it’s still a leopard and not a gazelle.”
Another victim of Brand said his offending “has had a lasting impact on my life even if I thought that I had successfully buried what happened.” In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said: “Since the sexual assault carried out by him in 2005, Russell Brand has managed to move on and even forget. This has had a lasting impact on my life even if I thought that I had successfully buried what happened.
I had a strong adverse reaction, especially to his voice.”
The incident affected her work, and she “tried for so long to be strong and carry on – business as usual.” She added: “However, over the years hearing his voice on television, on social media or seeing his image made me jump.”
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
