The Metropolitan Police are assessing several reports received during and after the trial of Russell Brand, the officer who led the investigation has said, following the disgraced comedian’s conviction and sentencing to 10½ years in prison for rape and sexual assault.
Det Supt Andy Furphy told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday that officers were in the "process of triaging" the reports and were "looking at exactly what we've got, whether they're information that points to behaviour or whether they could constitute a criminal offence, so our work isn't done."
A Met spokesperson confirmed that "several people have contacted the investigation team during and since the trial to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation" and that "detectives are assessing this information as part of their ongoing enquiries."
Brand, 51, was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women between 2004 and 2009. In his sentencing remarks, judge Joel Bennathan described Brand as a "sexual predator" and criticised his "staggering arrogance." He was sentenced to nine years for rape, with additional terms to run concurrently for the sexual assault counts.
Brand is already being investigated over rape allegations from two more women and has been interviewed under caution in connection to those allegations.
Furphy said some of the women who gave evidence in the trial had "found it deeply distressing because of the amount of media attention wrapped around it." He noted that even Brand himself "before and during trial was putting material online" but said the police "continue to support them." The conviction, he said, "could not have been achieved" without the women's "bravery, their courage, their resilience throughout the whole criminal justice process."
MP Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, reiterated her concerns that Brand was able to post videos to his millions of followers in the build-up to and during his trial. “This does continue to be an issue that he has made money throughout the process on his social media platform,” she told BBC Breakfast. “It just felt very odd that during the height of when there was a police investigation and some really serious allegations in the paper, that he was able to go online to his two and a half million followers, denying everything and putting his side of the story forward. That was an opportunity that his victims didn’t have.”
Dame Caroline wrote to social media companies Rumble, X, TikTok and Meta in September 2023, after the Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches allegations were made against Brand, asking if they would follow YouTube in cutting off his income on their platforms. Rumble publicly refused, and X said it does not take action against accounts that have not broken its rules or the law. TikTok said he had never been monetised there.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Met Police's assessment of new reports could lead to further charges against Brand, who is already under investigation for two additional rape allegations.
- The case continues to highlight questions about the role of social media platforms in allowing convicted individuals to monetise their following and address audiences during legal proceedings.
- The conviction and ongoing enquiries underscore the sustained impact on victims and the criminal justice system's handling of historical sexual offences.
Background
Russell Brand was a prominent comedian, actor and online influencer before a joint investigation by the Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023 led to multiple women making allegations of sexual assault and rape. He was convicted in November 2026 of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 10½ years in prison. The Met Police had already confirmed before his sentencing that they were investigating two further rape allegations against him, under which he had been interviewed under caution.
Key Perspectives
Det Supt Andy Furphy: Said officers were triaging new reports and looking at whether they point to behaviour or could constitute a criminal offence, adding "our work isn't done." He praised the victims' "bravery, their courage, their resilience."
Dame Caroline Dinenage (Conservative MP, CMS Committee chair): Reiterated concern that Brand was able to make money from his social media platform during the police investigation and trial, and that his victims did not have the same opportunity to put their side forward.
What to Watch
- Whether the Met Police announce any new charges or further interviews under caution as a result of the reports now being triaged.
- Potential parliamentary or regulatory action regarding social media platforms that continue to allow convicted individuals to monetise content.
- Any appeals or legal challenges to Brand's sentence.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Metropolitan Police are assessing several reports or contacts received during and since Russell Brand’s trial.BBC News: “A Met spokesperson confirmed that "several people have contacted the investigation team during and since the trial to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation". They added that "detectives are assessing this information as part of their ongoing enquiries".”
- SupportedAndy Furphy said officers were in the “process of triaging” the reports and assessing whether they could constitute a criminal offence.BBC News: “Det Supt Andy Furphy said that officers were in the "process of triaging" those reports and were "looking at exactly what we've got, whether they're information that points to behaviour or whether they could constitute a criminal offence, so our work isn't done."”
- SupportedBrand was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.BBC News: “On Monday, he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison, after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.”
- SupportedBrand, 51, was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women between 2004 and 2009.BBC News: “The 51-year-old was sentenced to nine years for rape, with an additional 18 months, nine months and eight months for three counts of sexual assault. The latter sentences are to run concurrently. He was found guilty of the charges involving four women between 2004 and 2009.”
- SupportedJudge Joel Bennathan described Brand as a “sexual predator” and criticised his “staggering arrogance.”BBC News: “In his sentencing remarks, judge Joel Bennathan described Brand as a "sexual predator" and criticised his "staggering arrogance".”
- SupportedBrand received nine years for rape, with additional sentences for the sexual-assault counts running concurrently.BBC News: “The 51-year-old was sentenced to nine years for rape, with an additional 18 months, nine months and eight months for three counts of sexual assault. The latter sentences are to run concurrently.”
- SupportedBrand is being investigated over rape allegations from two more women and has been interviewed under caution in connection with them.BBC News: “Brand is already being investigated over rape allegations from two more women. He has been interviewed under caution in connection to those allegations.”
- SupportedFurphy said some trial witnesses found the media attention deeply distressing.BBC News: “Furphy said: "Some have found it deeply distressing because of the amount of media attention wrapped around it".”
- SupportedDame Caroline Dinenage said Brand had made money on his social-media platform during the process and had access to two and a half million followers to deny the allegations and present his side.BBC News: “"This does continue to be an issue that he has made money throughout the process on his social media platform," she told BBC Breakfast. "It just felt very odd that during the height of when there was a police investigation and some really serious allegations in the paper, that he was able to go online to his two and a half million followers, denying everything and putting his side of the story forward."”
- SupportedDinenage wrote to Rumble, X, TikTok and Meta in September 2023 asking whether they would follow YouTube in cutting off Brand’s income; Rumble refused, X said it would not act against accounts that had not broken rules or the law, and TikTok said Brand had never been monetised there.BBC News: “In September 2023, after the Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches allegations were made against Brand, Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee chair Dame Caroline wrote to social media companies Rumble, X, TikTok and Meta. She asked if they would follow YouTube in cutting off Brand's income on their platforms. Rumble publicly refused, and X said it does not take action against accounts that have not broken its rules or the law. TikTok said he had never been monetised there.”