Russell Brand, who was convicted last Thursday on three counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, has visited and performed in Toronto several times. Since his conviction last Thursday, more victims have come forward. He was sentenced to 10 and a half yearsprison on Monday as almost 500,000 followed along online to the BBC's live updates.

Russell Brand’s conviction for rape and three counts of sexual assault following a three-week trial in London Crown Court is keeping sexual assault a hot topic of conversation in Toronto.

Does Brand have victims in Toronto? Brand visited the city several times in the early 2010s, for his Messiah Complex World Tour in 2013. He also participated in the 2014 JFL42 festival, which ran from September 18 to 27, 2014. In 2011, he was also interviewed by Maurie Sherman from KiSS 92.5 when Brand arrived at Pearson International airport.

The three counts of sexual assault and one rape charge of which Brand has been convicted for took place in London between 2004 and 2009, shortly before Brand started visiting Toronto for work and pleasure.

If someone has been assaulted by Brand in Toronto, a complaint of sexual assault would be made to the Toronto police.

There is no statute of limitation on sexual assault allegations in Canada, nor in England.

Brand’s accusers did not make a report to Metropolitan Police until 2023, long after any forensic evidence could be collected, when The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4's Dispatches published a joint investigative report on September 16, 2023.

There was no DNA evidence used at Brand’s London trial, nor any CCTV footage. The conviction was based solely on testimony from the accusers, who remained anonymous, and the testimony of people the victims had spoken to after the assaults and rape took place.

Canada has recently been captivated by the defamation claim of author and creative writing professor Steven Galloway against his accuser “A.B.”, a former student at U.B.C, who allegedly falsified rape allegations against him after having had a consensual relationship with him.

Although Brand’s trial and alleged assaults took place in London, a conviction based exclusively on oral testimony against a well-known celebrity and religious con-artist is a welcome relief for many in Canada, as it restores confidence that a conviction can be won even with many years passing between an assault and an eventual trial.

One Toronto criminal defense lawyer who wished to remain anonymous called Brand’s conviction “impactful” and said it would likely encourage victims of sexual abuse to file complaints they might otherwise have kept secret. This lawyer said his entire client list is made up of people charged with sexual assault arising out of a situation where the defendant maintains the sex was consensual.

Not everyone agrees with the conviction of Brand. Most notably Brand’s lawyer Ian Winter KC. Winter confronted a journalist for The Sunday Times who co-authored the report that led to Brand’s charges. Outside the Southwark Crown Court, Winter said to Rosamund Urwin, “I hope you are pleased with yourself,” to which Urwin responded, “I'm pleased justice has been done.” Winter then responded, “Well, it wasn't. You fucked it. Congratulations.”

Winter’s defiant behavior seems to have inspired people online to question the verdict and speculate whether Brand may be successful on appeal. As Brand arrived for sentencing today, protestors stood outside the court in solidarity with Brand. Brands' supporters were also online posting about a double standard in the justice system. On X.com, Elon Musk reposted a tweet that said the 'UK went after Russell Brand but not migrant rape gangs.'

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that two more rape allegations have already been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.