Overview
- A jury at Southwark Crown Court found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a multi‑week trial, and Mr Justice Bennathan refused him bail before a sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday.
- The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that two further alleged-rape investigations are active and the force expects additional victims may report incidents after the Thursday verdict.
- Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who led the police inquiry, said officers collected more than 400 witness statements during the long investigation and described the probe as still live.
- Independent producer Jack Bayles was asked by Various Artists Limited to step back from company work while it reviews allegations that he watched and laughed during an assault described in court.
- Campaigners and senior officials, including the Victims’ Commissioner and the prime minister, are urging reforms such as routine judicial directions to juries about rape myths, a debate that was intensified by evidence of workplace enabling revealed during the trial and in 2023 media investigations.