Detective in the Russell Brand case: new victims may come forward after the verdict

The key facts

Brand has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault; he was acquitted on two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault
Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault; he was acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault
Detective Andy Murphy expects new victims may come forward after the verdict; the investigation into two new allegations continues
Operation Actinolite lasted three years and gathered more than 340 statements; the earliest allegations date back 27 years
Operation Actinolite lasted three years and gathered more than 340 statements; the earliest allegations relate to events 27 years ago

The jury's verdict

British comedian and actor Russell Brand, 51, has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. A jury of eight men and four women delivered the verdict after a three-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London. Brand was acquitted on two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. This was reported by BBC News.

Police expect new reports

Detective Superintendent Andy Murphy of Scotland Yard, who led the investigation, told the BBC that after the guilty verdict other women are likely to come forward to the police: they, he said, will «gain courage and confidence» from what happened in court. It can now be reported that Brand remains under investigation over further rape allegations made by two women. Murphy also said that during questioning Brand was initially restrained, but became bolder over time — the detective linked this to the nature of his behaviour.

How the three-year investigation was built

Allegations against Brand first appeared in the media in September 2023, when The Times, The Sunday Times and the Dispatches programme on Channel 4 jointly published statements by four women alleging rape, sexual assault and psychological abuse — Brand categorically denied everything. Police launched their own investigation shortly after the publication; the operation was named Actinolite. Officers took more than 340 witness statements, including from Brand's former employers and colleagues; one officer was specifically assigned to study his books, stand-up shows, DVDs and podcasts to build the case. Katy Perry, who was married to Brand from 2010 to 2012, was not interviewed.

Difficulties of the case and the course of the trial

The main difficulty, according to Murphy, was that all the allegations were only formally «recent past»: the earliest events took place 27 years ago, so there were neither camera recordings nor forensic evidence. Police had to look for indirect corroboration — where the victims were, whom they told about what happened, what materials could be verified. Brand was questioned four times; each time he presented a prepared statement, denying that he knew the accusers and insisting that any intimacy was consensual, after which he answered «no comment». Charges were brought in April 2025, and two more counts were added in July 2025. The trial began on 14 October 2026: the women gave evidence from behind a screen, sometimes crying; in court Brand was described as «ruthless» and a «sexual predator». His former personal assistant told the jury about his «insane sexual need». According to the BBC, some women said they had been «obsessed» for years with what they had experienced.

Context of the trial

During the trial, the defence and the prosecution presented polar opposite images of the defendant. The defence argued in court that the Channel 4 documentary and journalists had «poisoned the well» against Brand, that is, had formed a prejudiced attitude towards him in advance. His wife Laura also spoke for the defence, calling her husband «kind» and «a wonderful father». These materials were published by the BBC during the hearings — a few days before the main interview with the detective was released.