Russell Brand suspected to have attacked at least 10 other women

Brand was convicted on Thursday of raping a young fan at his luxury London townhouse in 2009. The court found he continued despite her pleas to stop. He was also convicted of sexually assaulting three women in separate incidents at a radio station, recording studio and bar.

The Metropolitan police said Brand is under investigation for two further rape allegations. Detectives have sent files about those allegations to specialist rape prosecutors. They are discussing the evidence and material with them.

The wider review could produce more cases. Police expect to examine reports and intelligence about other potential victims after the sentencing. Brand faces years in prison and the possibility of a fresh trial if further allegations lead to charges and prosecutors decide the evidence supports proceedings.

The Metropolitan police are preparing to investigate at least 10 additional potential victims. Sources described 10 as the current minimum and said the number of further victims is feared to be in double digits. The police commissioner also warned that “many more” people could come forward.

The figure is not a final count. Some intelligence about possible victims is third-hand, meaning it was passed on by someone other than the person directly involved. Detectives must assess whether those reports are reliable and whether they identify people willing to speak.

Some suspected victims may also be reluctant to enter the criminal justice system. Others might decide to report after Brand’s conviction and sentencing. That is why police are treating 10 as a starting point, rather than a complete total, while they sift through reports and intelligence.

A rape myth is an unsupported belief that treats one particular reaction as proof of whether an assault happened. Such beliefs can distort investigations and trials. They may shift attention from the accused person’s conduct to the victim’s behaviour.

Brand’s trial included questions from the defence about why women had not screamed during attacks. The Crown Prosecution Service said there is no typical response to sexual assault. A person may freeze, remain silent, or feel unable to resist or explain what happened.

The government is considering proposals requiring judges to direct juries about rape myths and misconceptions. Judges already have power to give such directions. The aim is to prevent outdated assumptions from influencing verdicts and to help victims feel they are not the people on trial.

The additional allegations are not yet described as convictions or completed prosecutions. Police are investigating two further rape claims and have sent files to specialist rape prosecutors. Those prosecutors will examine the material with detectives before deciding whether the evidence can support further action.

If the evidence meets the required legal threshold, the allegations could lead to charges and another criminal trial. The article describes a growing prospect of a fresh trial, but it does not say that one has been ordered. Any future case would need to be tested through the criminal justice process.

The existing conviction may also prompt more women to contact police. The Met commissioner said high-profile cases often bring a flood of other reports. Police will sift through intelligence, assess each account, and consider whether further investigations or prosecutions are appropriate.

The Metropolitan police investigate reports, gather intelligence, interview people, and build case files. Here, the Met team that investigated Brand will review information about possible further victims. Detectives have already sent material on two allegations to specialist rape prosecutors.

Specialist prosecutors assess the evidence and decide whether prosecution is appropriate under the law. Judges manage proceedings and can direct juries about legal principles, including rape myths. Their role is to ensure the trial follows proper rules and that the jury receives relevant guidance.

Juries assess the evidence presented in court and decide whether the prosecution has proved its case. They do not decide based on stereotypes about how a victim should react. The article says judges can counter rape myths through directions, while the CPS stresses that attention should remain on the perpetrator’s actions.

Sexual assault does not produce one standard reaction. The CPS said a person may freeze or feel unable to speak about what happened. Fear, shock, confusion, or the difficulty of describing an assault can make immediate reporting impossible. The article does not claim that every delayed report has the same cause.

The article also says some suspected victims are reluctant to face the criminal justice system. Court proceedings can feel daunting, especially when victims fear being questioned about their behaviour. During Brand’s trial, women were asked why they had not screamed during attacks, illustrating how such expectations can add pressure.

A delayed report is not automatically treated as a barrier to justice, according to the CPS. Police are now reviewing information about possible victims, including people who may come forward after the conviction. The government is also considering stronger protections and directions about rape myths.

The article does not define consent directly. In established legal and everyday use, consent means a person freely and voluntarily agrees to the sexual activity in question. It is not created by silence, fear, freezing, or an absence of resistance. The person’s agreement must be considered in context.

The Brand conviction involved a finding that he continued raping a young fan despite her pleas for him to stop. The article also reports questions about why women had not screamed. Such questions can wrongly treat resistance as the measure of consent, although the CPS says people may freeze or feel unable to speak.

That is why attention should centre on the accused person’s actions and whether the prosecution proves the offence. Judges can direct juries against rape myths. The government is considering a legal duty requiring such directions, aiming to reduce the sense that victims are on trial.