Russell Brand’s Defence Lawyer Reports Himself to Regulator
Russell Brand’s defence barrister, Ian Winter KC, has referred himself to the Bar Standards Board after reports emerged that he confronted a Sunday Times journalist who had investigated the comedian in 2023. The regulator oversees barristers in England and Wales in the public interest, and Winter stated that he believes his professional duty requires him to submit the allegations for proper scrutiny. Prosecutors opposed Brand’s application to have his case stopped.
The incident allegedly occurred outside court on Thursday following the delivery of verdicts in Brand’s trial. Rosamund Urwin, a journalist who worked on the 2023 investigation, stated on a Times and Sunday Times podcast that she approached the barrister to introduce herself. According to Urwin, Winter responded with a “snarl,” telling her, “I hope you’re pleased with yourself.”
Urwin noted she responded by saying she was pleased that justice had been served. She alleged that Winter then replied that it had not and used a profanity to suggest she was to blame for the trial’s outcome. In his statement regarding the self-referral, Winter said he decided to report the matter after observing how these events were characterized in the press. But I can’t actually remember this but I’ve read it in reporting, ‘I am pleased that justice has been done'”, Urwin said, apparently I said.
The legal proceedings against Brand concluded on Thursday when he was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault after a four-week trial. During the hearing, Mr Justice Bennathan indicated that the defendant should prepare for a “significant custodial term.” Brand is currently being held in custody ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for Monday.
The trial followed a high-profile September 2023 investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches, The Times, and The Sunday Times, in which four women accused Brand of sexual and emotional abuse. Brand has denied those allegations. None of those women were among the complainants in the criminal trial, though Brand faces investigations into additional rape allegations from two other women. Court records from Southwark Crown Court indicate one of these additional cases involves an allegation that a victim was 16 at the time of the event. His lawyers argued that the actor and entertainer could not receive a fair trial because of the publicity following the Channel 4 Dispatches, Sunday Times and Times programme.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated on Friday that he would not be surprised if more individuals came forward with further allegations. He praised the bravery of those who testified and affirmed that police remain committed to holding powerful individuals accountable for sexual violence.
The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of past political associations with Brand.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced questions regarding his 2014 support for the comedian during a dispute over housing arrangements, where he had urged Brand to “keep going” and criticized media attempts to discredit him. Brand faced further questioning from officers in July 2025. Before police began investigating him, some party figures sought his support more than a decade ago. And in 2014 Burnham publicly backed Brand during a row over claims about the comedian’s housing arrangements, then Labour leader Ed Miliband was interviewed by Brand shortly before the 2015 election.
Speaking on Friday, Burnham described the crimes as “horrific,” stating he was unaware of the true extent of Brand’s actions at the time and that individuals in public life do not always know everything about those they associate with. According to he described Brand’s crimes as “horrific” and, He had been rightly held to account, adding: “I had no idea of the full extent of what he was doing.
