Hospital denies it barred Russell Brand from visiting when young son had surgery

Hospital denies it barred Russell Brand from visiting when young son had surgery Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children has denied Brand's statement that he was not allowed to visit his baby son in the unit when he had heart surgery in 2023 Great Ormond Street Hospital has denied it barred Russell Brand from his visiting his young son who was having open heart surgery'. Brand, 51, is facing years in jail after he was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women during the height of his fame. After hearing the harrowing accounts from the women, the defence, led by Ian Winter KC, presented the ruthless predator as the victim. Brand was asked by Mr Winter about how, at the time of the 2023 Channel 4 documentary revealing the allegations against him, his son had to have open heart surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. He was asked: "Did Great Ormond Street [Hospital for Children] refuse to let you stay with your son?" Brand replied to the question saying: "Yes". But Great Ormond Street has denied this, saying in a statement: "Russell Brand was not excluded from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in 2023 when his son was admitted for surgery." The statement added: "At a later date, after he had been formally charged, a decision was taken for safeguarding reasons to exclude Mr Brand from the trust site for one day." Brand first charged in April 2025, more than a year and a half after the allegations were published. Mr Winter reported himself to his professional regulator today after being accused of a tirade at a journalist shortly after the comedian had been found guilty of rape. He confronted Sunday Times reporter Rosamund Urwin, whose investigation, along with colleagues, led to Brand's victims coming forward, telling her: "I hope you are pleased with yourself." Ms Urwin responded: "I'm pleased justice has been done", before Mr Winter said: "Well, it wasn't. You f***** it." "Congratulations," he added, in an incident which happened on Thursday afternoon just outside the courtroom door, with a group of journalists watching on. In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Winter said he has now referred himself to the Bar Standards Board, his professional regulator. He said: "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. "I have made such a report." Brand was remanded into custody on Thursday as prosecutors consider charging him with raping two more victims, one a girl of 16. A jury at Southwark Crown Court found him guilty unanimously of attacking four women between 2004 and 2009 at the height of his fame. He will be sentenced on Monday. Mr Justice Bennathan warned Brand that he faced a "significant custodial sentence". He has been accused of raping two more women and prosecutors are now considering further criminal charges.