'Brand thought fame made him untouchable — but it was his victims’ courage that finally brought him down'

'Brand thought fame made him untouchable — but it was his victims’ courage that finally brought him down' Russell Brand, the disgraced former comedian, carried out the rape and sexual assaults at a time when his bawdy behaviour was indulged and celebrated during his rise to stardom For years, Russell Brand enjoyed fame, wealth and the protection of an industry too willing to look away. The women he abused were left carrying the consequences. Now the convicted rapist and sexual predator has been jailed for ten-and-a-half years. His victims have endured punishments no court can measure. One saw her ambitions wrecked and spent 17 years living with trauma. Another felt her ordeal was swept under the carpet. The judge’s words should ring far beyond the courtroom: “Whatever women wear, wherever they go, whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and demand justice from the courts.” That basic principle should never need repeating. Yet women are still doubted, blamed and silenced while powerful men expect protection. Brand’s celebrity could not save him from justice. The courage belongs to the women who stood against him, despite everything they suffered. He thought fame made him untouchable. Those brave women proved him wrong. Denise deserves lasting peace Denise Fergus has endured unimaginable grief after the brutal 1993 murder of her little boy, James Bulger. Now, at last, she can breathe a little easier. The decision to keep Jon Venables behind bars is both right and necessary. His appalling crime shocked the nation. His repeated reoffending since his release has demonstrated why the danger he poses cannot be ignored. No parent should have to live with the fear that her child's killer could be freed to destroy another family. Yet Denise faces the cruel prospect of another parole hearing in just two years. Her calls for reform deserve to be heard. She has already suffered more than any parent should endure. Rotherham Services race ahead Motorway services rarely get motorists’ engines revving, but Rotherham has raced to the top with a remarkable 99% satisfaction score. Meanwhile, veteran Watford Gap has stalled at the bottom. Looks like the biggest breakdown on the M1 is in the services.