Comedian Russell Brand faces jail today after he abused fame to rape, sexually assault victims

British comedian and actor Russell Brand is facing sentencing after being convicted of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others in a series of attacks spanning several years.

Brand, 51, was found guilty last week of raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting three women, including female television and radio workers, between 2004 and 2009.

He is expected to learn his sentence today at Southwark Crown Court.

Following the verdict, Justice Mr Bennathan ordered Brand to begin his prison sentence immediately and remanded him at HMP Wandsworth pending sentencing.

His wife, Laura Gallacher, was seen leaving the courtroom in tears after the guilty verdicts were delivered. Brand, meanwhile, was seen mouthing the words “I’m OK” to his lawyers before being led away by prison officers.

During the trial, prosecutors presented accounts of how Brand used his celebrity status and influence to pursue women he encountered while building his career as a comedian, television and radio presenter, and Hollywood actor.

Brand, who was briefly married to American singer Katy Perry, denied the charges and maintained that all his sexual encounters had been consensual.

He described his past lifestyle as promiscuous and admitted to making foolish decisions but insisted he had never engaged in criminal sexual conduct.

However, the women who testified gave accounts of unwanted sexual advances and assaults, describing how Brand used his position and influence to approach them.

One of the convictions relates to the rape of a 21-year-old woman in 2009.

The woman told the court that she was a fan of Brand and had willingly participated in a threesome with him backstage after one of his stand-up performances at the Hammersmith Apollo.

She later agreed to visit his home in Hampstead for sex. However, she told the jury that what began as a consensual encounter turned into rape.

Another woman testified that Brand sexually assaulted her at the Nordic bar in Soho in 2004, shortly after they were introduced at a party.

She told the court that Brand grabbed her breasts in front of other people in the crowded bar. She also recalled his facial expression during the incident, describing his grin as strange.

A third woman recounted how Brand kissed and groped her during a visit to the Capital Radio studios in London in 2005.

According to her testimony, the comedian approached her as she was leaving a room and began touching her without her consent.

She said she looked towards members of Brand’s entourage for assistance, but nobody intervened. She eventually managed to push him away.

Another victim, a female Channel 4 employee, told the court that Brand put his head into her groin in 2009 after she had been pressured to give him a massage.

The woman said Brand had refused to continue a recording session unless she massaged him. She also told the court that members of his entourage encouraged the arrangement rather than intervening.

During the trial, prosecutors also referred to passages from Brand’s 2007 autobiography, My Booky Wook, in which he described his pursuit of sexual encounters and his determination to achieve what he called his “birthright orgasm”.

The jury convicted Brand of rape and three sexual assaults but cleared him of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Following the convictions, the Metropolitan Police disclosed that Brand was also being investigated over two additional rape allegations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers were prepared for more potential victims to come forward, adding that there could be “many, many more” people willing to report their experiences.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham also condemned Brand’s crimes, describing them as “horrifying”.

The latest convictions mark a major development in the case against the comedian, whose career has spanned stand-up comedy, television, radio and film.