Brand's barrister refers himself to regulator after report he confronted journalist

Image source, Elizabeth Cook/Press Association

Ian Winter, left in this court sketch, reportedly verbally clashed with a reporter who had previously investigated his client

Russell Brand’s defence barrister has referred himself to the regulator after reports that he confronted a Sunday Times journalist who was involved in a media investigation into Brand in 2023.

In a Times and Sunday Times podcast on Thursday, Rosamund Urwin said she introduced herself to Ian Winter KC outside court after verdicts were delivered.

She claimed he responded with a “snarl” and said “I hope you’re pleased with yourself”.

“Apparently I said, but I can’t actually remember this but I’ve read it in reporting, ‘I am pleased that justice has been done'”, Urwin added.

In a statement, Winter said the “ways matters have been characterised” in the media meant they should be “subject to proper scrutiny”.

The journalist claimed that Winter also said to her “well it wasn’t you” and swore at her.

On Friday, Winter said he considered his professional duty required him to self-report the allegations to the Bar Standards Board.

The Bar Standards Board regulates barristers in England and Wales in the public interest.

In a statement, Winter 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.”

Four women variously accused Brand of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse in a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and the Times and Sunday Times in September 2023.

The actor and comedian denied the allegations.

None of the women who featured in the media investigation were the complainants from Brand’s criminal trial.

During a pre-trial hearing in October, Brand tried unsuccessfully to have his criminal case thrown out.

His lawyers argued that the actor and entertainer could not receive a fair trial because of the publicity following the Channel 4 Dispatches, Sunday Times and Times programme.

Prosecutors opposed Brand’s application to have his case stopped.

Brand is also being investigated over two more rape allegations made by two other women.

Court documents from a hearing at London’s Southwark Crown Court, held before Brand’s criminal trial, suggest one of the women was 16 at the time of the alleged offence and appeared in a Channel 4 documentary. Brand has denied the allegations.

None of the women involved in the media investigation were complainants in Brand’s criminal trial.

On Friday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if more people came forward to make allegations against Brand.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir Mark praised the “bravery” of the women who reported their allegations to police and gave evidence during the trial.

He said police would “do everything we can to bring to justice the powerful people who are responsible for probably the most ghastly moment in your life” when sexual assault allegations are made to them.

Related topics

More on this story

Met chief says he wouldn’t be surprised if more allegations made about Brand after rape conviction

Katherine Ryan says she feels ‘grief and relief’ after Russell Brand conviction

Burnham says he was not aware of Brand’s ‘horrific’ crimes