Brand lawyer self-reports to regulator

Ian Winter KC, the barrister representing Russell Brand, has referred himself to the Bar Standards Board. This action followed an accusation that he launched a verbal tirade at a journalist shortly after Brand was found guilty of rape.

The exchange occurred on Thursday afternoon outside Southwark Crown Court. Winter confronted Rosamund Urwin, a chief news correspondent for The Sunday Times. Her investigative work had previously led to the emergence of Brand's victims. During a confrontation witnessed by a group of reporters, Winter told Urwin, “I hope you are pleased with yourself.”

Urwin responded, “I’m pleased justice has been done.” Winter replied, “Well, it wasn’t. You fucked it.” He added the word “Congratulations” to the exchange. The incident took place moments after a jury delivered its verdict in a four-week trial.

The jury found Brand guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one attempted indecent assault count. Brand had denied all charges, arguing through his legal team that he was wrongly accused and a victim of a media conspiracy.

In a statement issued Friday at lunchtime, Winter explained the self-reporting. “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 said. He confirmed, “I have made such a report.”

Ben Taylor, editor of The Sunday Times, defended his correspondent in a Times Radio interview. Taylor described Winter’s behavior as extraordinary and noted that a jury of eight men and four women, not the press, rendered the verdict. He argued that questioning Urwin’s integrity also impugned the integrity of the jury and the judge who oversaw the case. Taylor called the barrister’s conduct reprehensible.

During the trial, Winter argued that media reporting had “poisoned the well,” making a fair trial impossible. He had accused journalists of being “criminals” and suggested their 2023 reporting may have perverted the course of justice. Mr Justice Bennathan rejected the attempt to block the trial. The judge ruled that Brand could be tried by jurors who had not seen the previous coverage. Brand, 51, is in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on Monday.