Russell Brand’s lawyer ought to be ashamed

He shapeshifted, somewhat. Despite his untamed hair and skin-tight attire, his image became more polished. The drugs took a back seat, and instead, we had the Lothario, where sex and promiscuity were synonymous.

For anyone else, the persistent leering and invasion of personal spaces would’ve been red flags. For Brand, it was accepted as “that’s just Russell”. A flowery vocabulary and unruly hairstyle combined with an open – and overbearing – lust for the opposite sex made him a seductive and enigmatic figure to many.

Hollywood beckoned. As did the stand-up circuit. And an A-lister marriage to one of the biggest pop stars in the world. On the surface, he had it all.

And even when that began to crumble, and the tide began to turn on the My Booky Wook author, his allure didn’t diminish; it just found a new crowd.

A born-again Christian sceptical of those wicked, deceitful powers that be. Conspiracy theories intertwined with bible passages meant the thousands of fans lost when the depravity of his past endeavours came to light were replaced by others enamoured by the road to redemption.

The fact of the matter is that no matter what image Brand has or had in the public sphere, he should and will now be remembered as one thing: a rapist.

On Thursday, the former rogue child of the BBC was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The judge refused him bail, meaning the 51-year-old is currently confined to his cell ahead of his sentencing on Monday, where a lengthier stint behind bars awaits.

Justice done, it would seem. Details of Brand’s crimes have been in the public domain for the past three weeks and contain details that would turn the most iron-laden of stomachs. An abuse of fame and power there for all to see.

And yet, when Brand’s barrister Ian Winter KC departed court on Thursday, the scenes that unfolded would’ve suggested otherwise.

Now, I must say that every person, whether they’re found guilty or they’re acquitted, is entitled to legal representation in court. And I am firmly against the idea of criticising defence teams over the character of who they defend. It’s a pivotal pillar of our justice system.

But throughout this trial, Winter regurgitated the bile that Brand spewed; that he was a victim of “trial by media”.

The Channel 4 and Sunday Times 2023 documentary that first brought allegations of this sort against Brand was the match that lit the blaze of his downfall. Brand denied everything, branded journalists “criminals”, and accused them of “poisoning the well” against him.

And as he left court on Thursday, with his rapist client in cuffs, Winter verbally attacked one of the journalists who played a vital role in ensuring Brand would pay for his crimes.

He aimed his ire at Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin as he left the courtroom. “I hope you are pleased with yourself,” he sniped.

“I’m pleased justice has been done,” Urwin promptly replied, to which Winter responded: “Well, it wasn’t. You f***ed it. Congratulations.”

“You f***ed it.” Appalling.

Winter had argued in Brand’s defence that reporting of allegations against Brand by Urwin and others had “poisoned the well” and rendered it impossible for him to have a fair trial.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, also dismissed an attempt by Brand to block his trial from taking place because of negative media coverage.

And guess what, more allegations face Brand. Following the guilty verdict, we now know he faces a further two allegations of rape – one involving a 16-year-old schoolgirl.

Brand was a rapist who abused his fame and stardom to prey on the opposite sex.

Urwin and her colleagues bravely worked to ensure he would pay for doing so. And the verdict is a testament to the women who came forward to put this man behind bars.

I’m afraid the only one who “f***ed it”, Mr Winter, is you.

GB News has contacted Cloth Fair Chambers for comment.