Met Police chief says 'many, many more victims' of Russell Brand could come forward as comedian faces two new rape probes

Britain's most senior police officer has predicted that 'many, many more' women could come forward with sexual abuse allegations against Russell Brand.Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, also criticised some of the rape myths advanced by the comedian's defence team during his trial.He said arguments put forward by Brand's lawyers, including suggestions that women were lying because they did not scream or attempt to flee, came 'very close to victim-blaming'.Sir Mark also confirmed detectives are investigating two further rape allegations involving the disgraced comedian and actor.One complainant was just 16, with Brand allegedly referring to her as his 'little dolly'.He spent his first night behind bars ahead of what could be a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others at the height of his fame.Detectives have appealed for more victims to come forward as it emerged that officers have already submitted files of evidence in the hope of bringing further charges.The Metropolitan Police's Commissioner said high-profile cases often led to an 'upsurge' in reporting because they gave victims the confidence to come forward.Sir Mark said of Brand: 'I wouldn't be surprised if many, many more come forward, and we're open to that.'At the moment, we've got two other victims who've come forward who want to tell their story, and so two rape cases we're investigating.' Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said he would not be surprised if “many more” alleged victims of Russell Brand now came forward. Brand, pictured yesterday with his wife Laura, is predicted to be facing at least 10 years in jailHe added: 'This may look like a different sort of case because it's a celebrity, but actually almost all sexual offending is about someone in a position of power exploiting another person.'That power may exist within an institution, it may be a teacher over a child, or simply an adult over a child. But what this case shows is that if you step forward, you will be listened to.'It was put to Sir Mark on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Brand's defence barrister, Ian Winter KC, told jurors that 'none of the complainants had, in his words, resisted or screamed or even tried to leave'.We speak to the detective who brought down Russell BrandHi, I'm Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk.Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults - and our reporters Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull were in court every day to witness it all. They sat down with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson who revealed why the women who accused him in the infamous documentary were not involved in his rape trial. Subscribe to The Crime Desk to listen to the podcast. Asked whether he supported Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman's call for a legal duty in the Courts and Tribunals Bill requiring judges to direct juries on rape myths and misconceptions in every rape trial, Sir Mark said: 'I strongly support Claire.'What I've heard reported is getting very close to victim blaming, which is something we've thought very hard about in policing and worked to ensure we do not do.'People fall into myths about how a rape victim must behave or react. The evidence is really clear. Some people will fight. Some people will freeze. Some people will tell someone straight away. Others will bottle it up for years. There is no single way of reacting.'We understand that. It shouldn't be possible for inaccurate statements to be made to a jury suggesting that because a rape victim did not behave in a particular way, their evidence is somehow undermined.'The evidence is very clear that we are all psychologically different, and in the most horrific circumstances people react in very different ways.'Brand was convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. It can now be revealed that the Crown Prosecution Service is considering bringing further charges after he was accused of two more rapes, including the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl.Prosecution papers, which the jury did not see, allege she was groomed while still a virgin when Brand was 30.Known by a pseudonym in the Channel 4 Dispatches programme that first exposed Brand in 2023, 'Alice' claimed a BBC car took her from school to the star's house, where she was later abused.During their three-month relationship Brand called her 'my little dolly' and she had to punch him to stop an oral rape, she said.BBC bosses will face questions after Brand previously boasted that his boss, Lesley Douglas, then the BBC's controller of Radio 2 and 6 Music, was 'incredibly tolerant' of his inappropriate sexual behaviour while he was a star presenter.In his memoir, he claimed this included allowing him to use the BBC's disabled toilets for sex with 6 Music competition winners.Questions will also be asked of Channel 4 executives who turned a blind eye to Brand's sordid behaviour, allowing him to commit sex attacks in plain sight. Detectives considered whether to bring charges against others in the entertainment industry, including Brand's aides, for enabling or assisting his crimes, but decided that there was not enough evidence.At least two other women came forward to accuse Brand of sexual abuse before the trial, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with their allegations.Detectives believe that his conviction will be a 'watershed moment', giving women the confidence to come forward.Brand is already facing civil claims in Britain and America.Here, a High Court claim has been lodged by a woman seeking £100,000 in damages. She says Brand forced himself on her at his LA mansion in 2008. The 23-year-old fled half-dressed in terror after he allegedly pushed her onto his bed and tried to perform sex acts against her will.There is also a separate lawsuit in New York. Brand is accused by an extra in the 2010 romantic comedy remake Arthur of exposing himself to cast members before sexually assaulting her on set. Thursday's guilty verdicts pave the way for victims to sue Brand, which if they succeed, could decimate his fortune.