Met Police Chief: More Russell Brand Victims Expected

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley stated on Friday that he expects a wave of new complaints to emerge against Russell Brand following the comedian and online influencer's conviction. Brand, 51, was found guilty on Thursday of raping one woman at his London townhouse and sexually assaulting three others at their workplaces, including a radio station and a television studio.

During his trial, prosecutors described Brand as a calculated and manipulative predator. The jury accepted the evidence presented against him, leading to the guilty verdicts for the four counts. Rowley indicated that the police are actively investigating two additional allegations of rape. The Met has already submitted files regarding these two new claims to the Crown Prosecution Service for review.

Rowley spoke to Times Radio and later appeared on BBC Breakfast, where he emphasized that the door is open for others. "There’s two more rape allegations that we’re looking at," Rowley said. "We’re encouraging anybody else to come forward if there’s any other allegations." He added on BBC Breakfast that he would not be surprised if many more victims identified themselves in the coming days.

The legal proceedings against Brand followed a 2023 documentary by Channel 4 Dispatches. Subsequent reports in The Times and Sunday Times aired further allegations that helped shape the public narrative around the case. Dorothy Byrne, a former head of news and current affairs at Channel 4, used the recent verdict to discuss the power dynamics in the media industry. Byrne noted that she had previously shared her own experience of sexual assault.

Byrne warned that a disparity in power often prevents staff from speaking out. She explained that younger employees on short-term contracts frequently fear professional retaliation. "There is such a disparity in power between the talent, who’s seen as absolutely key to the success of the programme, and a young person who will be on a very short-term contract," Byrne told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She added that these individuals may fear being seen as a troublemaker if they complain.

Byrne suggested the case could serve as a turning point for the industry. She observed that men who have behaved badly may now feel frightened after seeing brave young women come forward to the police. "I think there will be some men who have behaved badly who will be feeling frightened today," she said. The sentiment was echoed by Jess Phillips, a Labour MP and former safeguarding minister, who called the trial a rare insight into the defense strategies used in rape cases.

Rowley addressed the specific arguments made by Brand’s defense lawyer, Ian Winter KC. Winter had told jurors that none of the complainants had resisted, screamed, or tried to leave. Rowley characterized these reported defense tactics as getting very close to victim blaming. He stated that the Metropolitan Police has spent considerable time ensuring their own practices avoid these common misconceptions.

The Commissioner expressed strong support for Claire Waxman, the victims’ commissioner. Waxman has advocated for a legal duty requiring judges to issue specific directions to juries on rape myths in every trial. Rowley confirmed his backing for this measure. Phillips added that it is not an easy task for a victim to face expensive, well-paid lawyers during a trial, but the current trajectory suggests more women are stepping forward.