Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on Monday after a jury convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The sentence was handed down at Southwark Crown Court in London by Mr Justice Bennathan. Brand, 51, received nine years for the rape count, to run consecutively with the sentences for the three sexual assault counts — 18 months, nine months and eight months — which run concurrently with each other, bringing the total term to 10 years and six months.

The judge told Brand he had become a “sexual predator” during the height of his fame and showed a “casual and arrogant disregard” for women. Brand showed no emotion as the sentence was read, and told his wife Laura, who was in court, “we’ll be OK” as he was led away.

Brand was convicted last Thursday, Nov. 5, after a four-week trial. The jury found him guilty of raping a woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting three other women, with the offences taking place between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Under UK sentencing rules, Brand will likely serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before becoming eligible for parole. The prosecution had sought a category-one sentence for the rape count, with a starting point of 12 years. Police are separately investigating rape allegations from two more women.

Sources: AP ; USA Today ; People ; Page Six

Photo: Wikimedia Commons.