After a four‑week trial at Southwark Crown Court, comedian Russell Brand was found guilty of raping a fan and sexually assaulting three women over a five‑year period. He was cleared of two other rape charges and one attempted indecent assault. The Metropolitan Police are now investigating two additional rape allegations against Brand and have submitted the files to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Det Supt Andy Furphy, the Met’s strategic lead on the case, described Brand as a “predator” whose behaviour escalated as his fame grew. He said the police are still speaking to witnesses and that the investigation, known as Operation Actinolite, has involved more than 1,400 documents and over 340 statements from former employers, colleagues and associates.
Following the conviction, Furphy urged other potential victims to come forward. “When a conviction happens it can encourage people to speak because they see the courage of those who have already gone through the process,” he told the Guardian. “They feel their own strength and want to have their story told.”
The Met confirmed that Brand was interviewed under caution in connection with the two new rape allegations. Files have been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service and detectives remain in close contact with prosecutors as the inquiries continue.
Source: The Guardian World
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