LONDON — Comedian Russell Brand, once among Britain's most recognizable broadcasters and a star of several Hollywood films, was convicted at a London court on Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others, and now faces a lengthy prison sentence.

Prosecutors told jurors at Southwark Crown Court that Mr. Brand, the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry, was obsessed with sex and used women to satisfy his own desires. One victim told the court he treated her "like an animal."

Funny and charming when he wanted to be, but also ruthless, calculating and manipulative, the 51-year-old — who appeared in "Get Him to the Greek" and "Arthur" — was interested only in getting what he wanted from women, prosecutors said.

"The evidence showed Brand to be a calculated sexual predator, using his growing fame and power to create situations in which he could pursue women sexually, regardless of what they wanted," senior Crown prosecutor David Roberts said outside court.

Mr. Brand now faces jail and potentially further legal action: police said he remains under investigation for two other alleged rapes, one involving a girl who was then 16 years old.

Brand Denied the Charges

Known for his loquacious manner and flamboyant appearance, Mr. Brand had denied all the charges and ever having non-consensual sex, saying the incidents, which dated back more than 20 years, had either been consensual, reinvented or re-imagined.

He acknowledged in evidence that he had dedicated much of his life to "reckless philandering and idiocy," but insisted that sexual consent was fundamental.

After a four-week trial, however, the jury found him guilty of rape and three sexual assaults committed between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and an attempted indecent assault.

Judge Joel Bennathan said Mr. Brand, who was refused bail, would be sentenced on Monday and faced a lengthy prison term.

The verdict makes Mr. Brand one of the most prominent British celebrities convicted of sex offenses in recent times, following BBC newsreader Huw Edwards's admission two years ago that he made indecent pictures of children, and entertainer Rolf Harris's 2014 conviction for assaulting young girls.

The case has once again raised questions about how the entertainment industry deals with complaints about its stars. Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, who headed the investigation, said she expected other women to come forward.

"I think there are other victims out there and if they want to report that to us, then we'll of course take it seriously," she told Reuters.

Complainants Described Maniacal Demeanor

Prosecutors said Mr. Brand's offending spanned the years in which he rose from performing stand-up comedy in small venues to becoming a television presenter and Hollywood film star.

The court heard tearful and forceful testimony from six complainants, all of whom are entitled to lifelong anonymity. None of the women knew one another, yet all came forward to police in the wake of a 2023 TV documentary and press reports in which other women made separate allegations against Mr. Brand. Those women were not involved in the criminal trial.

Giving evidence, the complainants described a sudden change in Mr. Brand's demeanor during their encounters, saying he became wide-eyed and maniacal. One woman said that less than a minute after meeting him at a party in a bar, he grabbed her breasts.

Another victim, a self-described fan of Mr. Brand, told the court she had gone to his home for what she expected to be consensual sex, but that he then removed a condom and anally raped her. Afterwards, she said, he ordered her to clear up the bloody mess on the sheets.

Witness Said He Wanted to Sleep With 5,000 Women

Throughout his career, Mr. Brand has been open about his battles with drugs and sex addiction, writing about both in his 2007 autobiography, "My Booky Wook."

One witness, a former friend with whom Mr. Brand later lived, told the court that Mr. Brand had bragged he wanted to sleep with 5,000 women. His former personal assistant, Helen Berger, who worked for him from 2006 to 2007, said he had "an insane sexual appetite."

"He never seemed happy after sex, more so depressed," she said in a witness statement.

Police Say Conviction Sends Clear Message

Mr. Brand rose to prominence in Britain hosting a spin-off show to "Big Brother" on Channel 4. During the 2000s, he became a regular fixture on television and radio and went on to star in a number of films. In 2010, he married Ms. Perry — a relationship that, he told the court, brought him "staggering fame." The marriage ended after 14 months.

Detective Inspector Nelson said Ms. Perry had not been approached as a potential witness, but that she could always come to police if she had any information.

In subsequent years, Mr. Brand moved away from mainstream TV and film work and built a large social media following as an anti-establishment commentator, discussing politics, spirituality and religion. He was baptized as a Christian in 2024, after the allegations first became public.

"I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be," Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from London police said.

— Reuters