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Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault

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November 5, 2026
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Judge says actor and comedian faces ‘significant custodial term’ after being convicted of raping a woman and assaulting three others

Russell Brand has been found guilty of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others over the course of five years of his showbusiness career.

Brand, 51, was described during his trial as a ruthless, calculated and manipulative sexual predator. He was accused of raping women in a hotel room, in a bar toilet and at his luxury London townhouse. He sexually assaulted women in front of his entourage at their workplaces, including at a radio station and TV studio.

The Hollywood actor turned online influencer was accused of gaslighting his victims after the attacks, and treating women as a “disposable commodity” and a “means to an end” to satisfy his voracious sexual appetite.

Brand stood outside the door of the dock shortly before the jury delivered their verdicts and looked at his wife, Laura, saying: “Laura, I love you.”

Wearing a grey three-piece suit, he appeared to be praying in the dock before he was convicted of four offences on Thursday after a four-week trial at Southwark crown court.

He had pleaded not guilty to three charges of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault against six women, in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999.

Brand claimed he could not remember some of the incidents and that others had been consensual sexual encounters that had been “reimagined” or “unfavourably reframed” after the publication of sexual misconduct allegations against him in a 2023 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, and Times and Sunday Times reports.

But Brand closed his eyes, as a jury found him guilty of four offences after eight hours and thirty minutes of deliberations.

The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, praised the panel of four women and eight men, and told Brand: “You’ve been convicted of a numbers of offences, including one of rape. The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term. My current view is that I have to therefore remand you in custody.”

He said Brand would be sentenced on Monday.

Brand held his head high and appeared emotionless as he was led away by the dock officers down to the cells.

Brand’s trial heard victims had been haunted by their encounters with the former presenter and that they had “bravely” come forward to the tell “the truth” after realising they were not alone.

The prosecutor, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, said they described a similar pattern of behaviour from the comedian that started with compliments, flattery and flirting before a “personality change”. “His eyes changed, he snapped, from charming to frightening to nasty,” she said.

But Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, denied the TV personality was a “psychopath who rapes people and thinks it’s normal”. He claimed Brand was respectful when women said no and that being “rude or acting like a crazy idiot” during sex is not a crime if there is consent.

In his closing speech on Monday, the barrister also questioned why Brand’s accusers had not screamed, kicked out or slapped Brand when they were raped. “Not one of them resisted or screamed or even tried to leave,” he said.

Det Supt Andy Furphy, from the Met police, praised the “extraordinary courage, resilience and determination” of Brand’s victims. In a statement, he said: “Despite intense media and public scrutiny, they relived deeply personal and traumatic experiences and placed their trust in us. Without their bravery, this outcome would not have been possible.

“Brand used his influence, status and fame to prey on and exploit women. As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.”

He also paid tribute to the “professionalism and determination” of the team of detectives and specialist staff who worked on the high-profile investigation, which attracted widespread international coverage.

“Finally, I would urge anyone who may have been a victim of rape or serious sexual assault to speak to us. You will be listened to, supported and treated with dignity and respect,” he said.

The Guardian

Security guard who protected Nigel Farage on campaign trail was facing rape charge

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October 30, 2026
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Ryan Dinnage – who accompanied Reform UK leader on walkabouts before local elections – was later jailed, raising questions about vetting failure

Ryan Dinnage, 32, from Croydon, was sentenced in July to more than eight years in prison. Photograph: Thames Valley police

One of Nigel Farage’s security team who accompanied him on the local election campaign trail this year was facing a rape charge and was later jailed for eight years, raising questions about a failure of vetting.

Ryan Dinnage spent time protecting Farage in April and May, but in June was convicted of having raped a woman while she slept in a caravan at the Royal Windsor horse show.

Dinnage was seen beside Farage on walkabouts on at least four occasions on Reform’s local election campaign trail this spring: in Llandudno, Conwy County; Waterlooville, Hampshire, Worthing, West Sussex, and Downham Market, Norfolk.

He had been charged in 2025, three years after the crime took place at the equestrian event in 2022.

Reform UK acknowledged Farage was provided with protection by Dinnage, and said his services had been supplied by a third-party contractor who had assured them he had been vetted.

A spokesperson for the party said: “As soon as we found out, we were shocked and disgusted and he ceased to be used by Reform.”

However, the episode raises questions about how a security operative facing a charge of serious sexual violence could have been put in a position of responsibility near a senior politician and members of the public.

Reform UK did not answer further questions about whether the party was continuing its relationship with the third-party contractor, and whether any action was taken against them.

A Labour spokesperson said: “Nigel Farage must urgently explain at what point Reform UK became aware that they allowed a man charged with rape to directly interact with the public on their behalf. They must also urgently make clear what action they have taken to prevent such a situation happening again.

“Farage and his party are lurching from scandal to scandal and the public are rapidly seeing who they really are. In recent weeks Farage has shrugged off vile misogyny and Reform has an appalling track record when it comes to standing up for women. It’s time Farage showed some leadership for once, got his house in order, and realised the buck stops with him.”

Farage is generally accompanied by a large security team, and has spoken of threats being made against him. The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe has been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against Farage. Over the summer, counter-terror police reopened a year-long investigation into an alleged firebomb attack at Farage’s home in south London.

The Reform UK leader has repeatedly said he accepted a £5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne in order to pay for his security for the rest of his life. He has previously turned down taxpayer-funded security from the government, which included a bodyguard, a car, and a trained driver, deeming it to be inadequate.

Dinnage, then 32, of Croydon, was sentenced to eight and half years in prison in July. According to Thames Valley police, his offence took place in the early hours of 16 May 2022, when Dinnage entered the caravan where the victim was sleeping and raped her. He was reported to police later that day and arrested the next day.

Reform is not the only party in the spotlight for a vetting failure in recent weeks. The Conservatives were criticised, by Reform UK, for having employed a former election candidate, Jack Ross, who was filmed by an undercover reporter appearing to discuss the cost of hiring contract killers. Ross had worked as a consultant in Kemi Badenoch’s office.

Ross is facing an investigation by the Tories after he was filmed apparently asking an undercover reporter: “What do you want done?” and apparently offering to “broker” the services of an alleged far-right paramilitary group.

Police in Scotland have said they will be reviewing an Al Jazeera documentary in which Ross was filmed seemingly making a range of comments about what a contract killer could be employed to do, and talked about using far-right groups to create disruption on the streets.

The Guardian

Former soldier jailed over weapons stash in shed

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May 5, 2026
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A convicted paedophile and former soldier who had a fascination with the Nazis and firearms has been jailed for terrorism and weapons offences.

Paul Page, 52, of Littleport in Cambridgeshire, collected landmines, grenades, rifles, ammunition and chemicals in a shed which he described as a “man cave” and “personal museum”.

Police found more than 600 weapons stockpiled at his home and in March, Page admitted a string of terrorism, explosives and firearms charges.

Sentencing him to six years in prison at the Old Bailey earlier, Judge Richard Marks KC said Page had an “obsession with weapons and tools”.

Cambridgeshire Police started investigating Page over reports he downloaded child abuse images and they uncovered more than 250 illegal images on his devices.

In August 2023 he was jailed for 20 months after admitting three charges of making indecent images of children.

But during a search of his home, officers had also discovered a hoard of Nazi flags, World War Two weapons and chemicals in an outbuilding.

Counter-terrorism officers established Page had more than 600 weapons and other militaria linked to Nazi activity during World War Two.

Police said although much of this was legal memorabilia, he was in possession of prohibited items including landmines, grenades, rifles and ammunition.

Hannah Wilkinson is assistant chief officer for the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, which is made up of counter-terrorism personnel.

“We also discovered two instruction manuals – one for how to put together a gun and another for how to make a bomb – and those two items are prohibited under the Terrorism Act.”

Even though Page said he kept the stash under lock and key, Marks said the property was in a residential area and potentially within reach of children if he was not “100% vigilant”.

Had the shed been burgled and the items got into the wrong hands, “the consequences could have been very serious”, the judge added.

During police interviews, Page denied holding an extreme right-wing mindset, despite having an email address which referenced numbers associated with Adolf Hitler and a tattoo linked to white supremacy, police said.

Page had pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a document or record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

He also admitted two counts of possessing an explosive substance, four counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate, two counts related to the possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of prohibited ammunition and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

Page had also been convicted of child abuse in the US in 2006.

BBC News

Nazi-obsessed man who hoarded 600 weapons in court on terror offences

By
March 9, 2026
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Paul Page, from Littleport in Cambridgeshire, was described as having a Nazi ‘fascination’ after police discovered his home brimming with memorabilia and 600 weapons

A weapons-obsessed man with a fascination for Nazi Germany has pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.

Paul Page, 52, of Littleport, Cambridgeshire, was found to have collected more than 600 weapons including landmines, grenades, rifles and ammunition, police said.

The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) said Page also had explosive substances and guides and manuals on how to produce explosives and manufacture firearms.

When his home in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, was raided by police, officers found it was decked head-to-toe in Nazi memorabilia, including Second World War weapons, chemicals, and Swastika flags.

In 2023, Cambridgeshire Police officers had been investigating reports that Page had downloaded child abuse images. During a search of his home they discovered Nazi flags, Second World War weapons and chemicals.

The unrelated child abuse investigation by Cambridgeshire Police uncovered more than 250 illegal images on Page’s devices. In August 2023, he was jailed for 20 months after admitting three charges of making indecent images of children.

A separate further investigation was then led by ERSOU into items recovered from an outbuilding at Page’s address. Detectives from ERSOU’s Counter Terrorism Policing unit established Page had collected more than 600 weapons and other militaria linked to Nazi activity during the war.

Police said although much of this was legal memorabilia, he was in possession of prohibited items including landmines, grenades, rifles and ammunition.

A book was seized containing instructions on how to produce a sub-machine gun, and component parts of firearms, bullet casings and shells were recovered.

There were also several chemicals that – if combined – were precursor materials useful for the manufacture of explosives. Page had also downloaded a banned document containing instructions to make viable explosives.

ERSOU said that throughout police interviews Page denied holding an extreme right-wing mindset, despite having an email address which referenced numbers associated with Adolf Hitler and a tattoo linked to white supremacy.

He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Monday to a series of offences including two counts of possessing a document or record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, ERSOU said.

Page also admitted two counts of possessing an explosive substance, four counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate, two counts related to the possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of prohibited ammunition and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

Hannah Wilkinson, head of ERSOU, said: “Throughout our investigation, it was clear that Page had a fascination with Nazi Germany and World War Two, the clearest indication being the flags draped in his outbuilding.

“Of real concern to us was the combination of dangerous chemicals, the banned documents on how to create firearms and explosives, and Page’s clear obsession with weapons.

“Working closely with force colleagues in Cambridgeshire, our teams seized a significant amount of physical and digital materials which were examined by experts and identified to be a severe risk.

“Our specialist teams are dedicated to tackling the threat of terrorism in the eastern region, and I’m thankful for all their work throughout this investigation.” Page was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on May 1.

Daily Mirror