Russell Brand’s father has described his convicted son as a victim and questioned the fairness of the jury’s verdict after the comedian was jailed for 10 years and six months for rape and sexual assault. Ron Brand made the remarks during a tense exchange with reporters outside Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday 9 November 2026.
The comments followed the sentencing of the 51-year-old comedian for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women. The convictions were returned on 5 November after a four-week trial.
What did Ron Brand say outside court?
In footage broadcast by Sky News, a reporter asked Ron Brand whether he had anything to say to the victims. He replied: “The victim? What, Russell?” When the reporter clarified that she meant the women, he alleged that they had pursued and harassed his son. These were his assertions, not findings made by the court.
When reminded that a jury had convicted Russell Brand, Ron said: “I don’t care.” He also said he did not believe in the justice system “on the basis of what I just watched”.
Did he accuse the jury of corruption?
Ron Brand suggested it was possible the jury could have been influenced or corrupted, raising the possibility of jurors seeing social media discussion about his son. He did not provide evidence that any member of the jury had acted improperly.
A question about whether jurors could be influenced by online material is not evidence that this happened in Brand’s trial. No finding of juror misconduct has been established in the reporting examined for this article.
How did Ron Brand respond to questions about his family?
Asked how his son might cope with imprisonment, Ron Brand said he was strong. He also described Russell Brand’s wife, Laura Gallacher, as strong. Earlier, during a break in the hearing, he had told reporters that he was struggling.
What did the jury actually decide?
The jury convicted Russell Brand of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others in offences dating from 2004 to 2009. He was also acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Those acquitted allegations must not be treated as proven offences.
On 9 November Judge Joel Bennathan imposed a prison sentence of 10 years and six months. Read our full report on Russell Brand’s sentence for the judge’s remarks and the victims’ statements.
What the exchange does, and does not, establish
Ron Brand’s comments demonstrate that he disputes the outcome of his son’s criminal trial. They do not overturn the convictions, establish that the jury was corrupt or show that the women fabricated their accounts. Any challenge to the verdict would have to be pursued through the legal process and assessed on evidence.
Sources
- Sky News: live sentencing coverage and Ron Brand’s remarks, 9 November 2026
- Crown Prosecution Service: conviction details, 5 November 2026
- Fish 4 News: sentencing report, 9 November 2026
