The 51-year-old showed little emotion as Judge Joel Bennathan handed down the sentence at London's Southwark Crown Court, describing him as a "sexual predator" who had displayed "staggering arrogance" and contempt towards his victims, AFP reported.

The judge said Brand had used his celebrity status to act without regard for the rules followed by ordinary people, leaving his victims with significant and lasting trauma.

Brand's wife, Laura Gallacher, who has attended court proceedings throughout the case, was visibly distressed as the sentence was announced.

The comedian reportedly told her, "We'll be OK," before being escorted to the cells.

Brand convicted of four sexual offences

The sentencing followed a jury verdict last week, finding Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault committed against four women between 2004 and 2009.

He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Before the sentence was announced, Brand held prayer beads and made the sign of the cross as one of his victims delivered a personal impact statement from behind a screen.

The woman, who was assaulted at a London bar in 2004, told the court that the experience had left her traumatised.

She also spoke about how Brand's celebrity status had made his behaviour towards women appear acceptable in the entertainment industry, saying his actions were often treated as a joke.

Another victim, who was 21 when Brand raped her in 2009 after they met at one of his shows, described the immense power imbalance created by his fame, wealth and influence.

She said she had initially felt that nobody would believe her if she reported the assault. The consequences, she added, had affected almost every aspect of her life.

Police investigating further rape allegations

Although the trial has concluded, Brand continues to face scrutiny over other allegations.

London's Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it is investigating rape allegations involving two additional women.

The latest developments have also intensified calls for greater accountability in Britain's entertainment industry, particularly over how powerful celebrities were able to exploit their positions.

From mainstream TV star to controversial online personality

Brand rose to prominence in the early 2000s, becoming a familiar face on British television and radio through his work with MTV, Channel 4 and BBC Radio 2.

Known for his flamboyant appearance, provocative humour and outspoken personality, he built a career around his controversial public image.

His departure from the BBC followed a scandal involving sexually explicit messages and a prank phone call concerning actor Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter.

Brand subsequently moved into Hollywood, appearing in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. He was briefly married to American pop star Katy Perry in 2010.

In later years, he reinvented himself as a political commentator and online personality, before increasingly embracing Christian spirituality.

Throughout the criminal proceedings, Brand denied the charges. However, he acknowledged having been extremely promiscuous and admitted that he had used his celebrity status to facilitate sexual encounters, while maintaining that he had never engaged in non-consensual sex.

BBC and entertainment industry face questions

The convictions have renewed scrutiny of the media organisations that employed Brand during the period in which the offences took place.

The BBC issued an apology last week, acknowledging the "culture and failings" surrounding the comedian's time at the broadcaster between 2006 and 2008.

British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the case as a "wake-up call", warning that women in the media industry continue to face exploitation by men in positions of power.

The case has also prompted renewed discussions about institutional accountability and the support available to survivors of sexual violence.

Meanwhile, the victims' decision to come forward has drawn widespread attention to the difficulties women face when reporting sexual offences involving influential public figures.