{"id":52635,"date":"2026-11-11T02:04:14","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T02:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=52635"},"modified":"2026-11-11T02:04:14","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T02:04:14","slug":"judge-who-sentenced-russell-brand-praised-for-dispelling-rape-myths-russell-brand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=52635","title":{"rendered":"Judge who sentenced Russell Brand praised for dispelling rape myths | Russell Brand"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The judge who sentenced Russell Brand has been praised for dispelling rape myths with \u201cpiercing clarity\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr Justice Bennathan\u2019s sentencing remarks were particularly welcomed given that rape myths had played a part in the trial. He was also lauded for calling out \u201cenablers\u201d who witnessed sexual assaults by the comedian.<\/p>\n

Sentencing Brand to 10 and a half years on Monday for raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others, Bennathan said: \u201cWhatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrew Thomas KC, the chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and Kama Melly KC, its vice-chair, said: \u201cWe welcome the piercing clarity of the judge\u2019s statement. Myths about rape and sexual assault must play no part in our culture or in our courtrooms. Raping or sexually assaulting someone is a crime, and blame lies entirely with the perpetrator.<\/p>\n

\u201cVictims of sexual violence should know that when they go to the prosecution authorities, their evidence will be judged fairly and properly. As the verdicts in Russell Brand\u2019s case show, a properly directed jury will not be put off by a defendant\u2019s appeal to rape myths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ciara Bergman, the chief executive of Rape Crisis England & Wales, said Bennathan\u2019s remarks were \u201chugely important\u201d at the end of such a high-profile trial. \u201cWe\u2019re pleased he emphasised and upheld women\u2019s rights and freedoms, and recognised the profound courage of the women who came forward, and what they endured during the trial, too,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition stands in stark contrast to the appalling accusations made by Brand\u2019s defence barrister, who perpetuated myths, misconceptions and conceptions about rape, such as needing to have fought, screamed or reported immediately for it to be considered a credible allegation. Of course this is not the case; there are a range of ways in which people respond to the threat of an imminent sexual assault and all of them are valid.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span>A sketch of Russell Brand listening to a victim impact statement during his sentencing hearing on Monday.<\/span> Photograph: Elizabeth Cook\/PA<\/p>\n

Deniz U\u011fur, the deputy director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said rape myths should be prohibited. \u201cThe judge\u2019s comments are welcome given the significant role that rape myths played in this trial, which in turn have influenced public discussions about the case,\u201d she said. \u201cThis will be having a profound effect not only on the women involved in this case, but on survivors exposed to victim-blaming and misconceptions online and in their daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Labour\u2019s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, praised Bennathan\u2019s \u201cincredibly powerful\u201d sentencing remarks, contrasting them with the \u201cdepressing\u201d nature of the cross-examination of Brand\u2019s victims by his barrister, Ian Winter KC.<\/p>\n

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The judge also took aim at Brand\u2019s \u201cenablers\u201d who witnessed Brand sexually assault women in front of them at a radio station and TV studio. He said of the former incident: \u201cNo doubt your companions thought it was outrageous laddish behaviour that only you could get away with. It was outrageous and possibly laddish, but also a criminal sexual offence, and as it turns out you haven\u2019t got away with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bennathan told Brand the assault at the TV studio showed \u201cyour staggering arrogance, and it shows how your entourage indulged your dreadful behaviour\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bergman described the comments as \u201ccrucial\u201d, adding: \u201cThis case and the national response to it is about more than just one man, it is about everyone who laughed along, didn\u2019t speak up and\/or looked away, even when it was happening right in front of them. They may not have committed Brand\u2019s crimes, but they contributed to the culture that meant he went on harming other women with impunity for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n

U\u011fur similarly welcomed Bennathan\u2019s remarks, saying it was \u201ccritically important to look at the many institutions and individuals that enabled [Brand\u2019s] behaviour\u201d.<\/p>\n