On Thursday, Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, and is now in police custody, awaiting sentencing.

Allegations of historic sexual misconduct against Brand were first made public as part of a joint 2023 investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches. Following this, the Metropolitan Police launched their own investigation, resulting in the stand-up performer and actor being formally charged in April 2025.

In light of the guilty verdict on Thursday, Brand’s legal rep Ian Winter KC was reported to have confronted one of the journalists involved in the initial investigation outside Southwark Crown Court, telling her: “I hope you’re pleased with yourself.”

When the reporter responded that she was “pleased justice has been done”, Winter is alleged to have retorted: “Well it wasn’t. You fucked it.”

The following day, Winter released a statement, which read (as reported by Deadline): “Having seen the ways matters have been characterised in today’s press, I consider my professional duty requires me to self-report those allegations to the Bar Standards Board so the matter can be subject to proper scrutiny.”

He then confirmed: “I have made such a report.”