Russell Brand Jailed and David Walliams Accused of Grooming

British actor and comedian Russell Brand was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years in prison on Tuesday after a Southwark Crown Court jury found him guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others, 1News reported.

The conviction follows allegations from six women regarding incidents that took place years ago, while police said that Brand remains under investigation over at least two further rape allegations. Following the trial, Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley said officers are braced for many more potential victims to come forward.

Shortly after Brand received his sentence, his former girlfriend Jemima Goldsmith claimed she had personally encountered his violent, controlling, and abusive behavior. According to her, in 2014 she needed to summon law enforcement to eject him from her home amid a violent episode, yet she opted against filing charges because she worried media coverage would impact her children.

David Walliams faces grooming allegations

A day after Brand was jailed, fellow British comedian David Walliams became the subject of detailed accounts published by the Guardian and ITV News accusing him of using his fame to prey on young female fans, including teenagers, for sex.

Walliams had attempted to obtain a legal order preventing two media outlets from releasing the accusations made against him, though a judge denied his request. Lawyers representing Walliams argued that publishing the allegations would lead him to take his own life, an argument rejected by the court.

Among the published accounts, a woman identified as Alex recounted that Walliams contacted her in January 2004 when she was fifteen years old and studying for her GCSEs after she attended a fan event where he signed autographs as his character Lou from the sketch comedy show Little Britain, according to the Guardian.

Walliams denies all allegations of grooming and sexual contact, and he has not been charged by police with any wrongdoing.

“I could really feel the imbalance at that point already, but equally I was young and there was an element of excitement, because of the context of who he was to me,” Alex said.

“He got up and gave me a hug and just sort of said hello,” Jade said.

Past clips fuel scrutiny of media employers

The simultaneous revelations involving two prominent household names from the 2000s and 2010s have renewed questions regarding why it took so long for their stars to fall and whether media employers such as the BBC played a role in shielding predatory behavior.

In the wake of the reports, attention turned to past broadcasts, including a 2006 talk show clip where Walliams and Brand joked about appearing gay as a smoke screen, and a 2004 video from the British Comedy Awards where comedian Jonathan Ross joked about Walliams going home with fifteen-year-olds.

Ross stated on Wednesday that he was horrified by the allegations and called his past remark a tasteless joke, adding that he was genuinely unaware of their conduct at the time.

The BBC announced on Wednesday that it was removing Little Britain and other programs featuring and written by Walliams from its platforms. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said that the allegations against Walliams represent the latest in a long line of reported abuses of power in an industry with massive power imbalances, adding that government officials are summoning media and entertainment executives to demand stronger policies to protect women.

Police assess new information while support services remain available

Police continue to assess new information after several individuals reached out during and following the conclusion of Brand’s trial. Anyone experiencing family or sexual violence can access confidential support through dedicated helplines, including Safe to Talk at 0800 044 334 or Women’s Refuge at 0800 733 843.

“The Metropolitan Police are braced for many, many more possible victims of Brand to come forward,” said Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police.