THURROCK-born comedian and actor Russell Brand is behind bars and facing a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

After a trial at Southwark Crown Court, a jury found the 51-year-old was guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at a bar in London in 2004. They'd been at a birthday party in Soho and had been chatting at the bar for less than a minute when Brand grabbed her breasts.

He has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at the Choice FM studios in London in either 2004 or 2005 when he grabbed her face and kissed her before touching her breasts and bottom.

He raped a woman at his then home in London in 2009, days after meeting her at the Hammersmith Apollo theatre where he'd been performing a comedy show. She visited his home in Hampstead where they had consensual sex before he anally raped her. She had told the court "he hurt me and harmed me and when I asked him to stop he didn't".

Brand has also been found guilty of a sexual assault charge while working on a Channel 4 project in 2009.

He was found not guilty on three counts. Brand was cleared of raping a woman at a hotel in Bournemouth in 1999, where he was attending the Labour Party conference. He had been performing at a cabaret show where he met the woman.

He was found not guilty of an attempted indecent assault offence - he was accused of grabbing a woman's arm and pulling her towards a toilet in 2001.

He was also found not guilty of orally raping a woman in a toilet at a bar in London. The attack was alleged to have happened when they had been at a birthday party together.

The former Grays School student who grew up in the town will be sentenced on Monday.

A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service after the trial ended said: "Russell Brand was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes," says David Roberts, senior prosecutor in the London rape and serious sexual assault unit.

"He was a manipulator with an insatiable desire to get what he wanted regardless of whether consent was given or not.

"As his career took off, he seized opportunities to assault the women around him.

"Although his tactics varied, at the centre of every assault was an abuse of power and sexual greed, with a complete disregard for the impact of his actions."

Brand is being investigated over further rape allegations made by two women, it can now be reported.

It's also emerged that Brand, 51, has already been questioned by officers in relation to the complaints.

The Metropolitan Police said its investigation into the allegations "remains ongoing".

In a statement the force said: "The suspect has previously been interviewed under caution in connection with the allegations."

It said that files had been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in relation to both complainants.

"Detectives remain in close contact with prosecutors as enquiries continue and further investigative work is carried out," the force added.

Officers also encouraged anyone wishing to speak to detectives or make a report to contact them.