Russell Brand’s 'Sachsgate' scandal ex-lover urges him to ‘do the right thing’ after rape conviction

Russell Brand’s former lover Georgina Baillie has urged the comedian to "tell the truth" after he was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The actress was at the centre of one of the UK's most infamous broadcasting scandals when Brand and co-host Jonathan Ross left lewd voicemails for her grandfather, the late Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs.The pair prank-called the veteran actor live on BBC Radio 2, during which Ross shouted that Brand had slept with his granddaughter. Dubbed "Sachsgate," the row prompted thousands of complaints and drew swift condemnation from then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assaultPA WireDespite the fallout, Baillie later revealed Brand supported her through personal struggles, funding her stay in a rehabilitation facility in 2018 - an intervention she previously credited with saving her life."The most important thing is to admit your mistakes and correct them as much as you can," she said."Now if they've proven that he's done these things... that's what needs to happen. He needs to make amends."Reflecting on when allegations against Brand first surfaced in 2023, following a joint investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches, The Times, and The Sunday Times, Baillie admitted she initially struggled to accept them.Georgina Baillie pictured in 2008PA"I just found it really, really tricky to associate him with any form of aggression toward a girl, because he worshipped girls," she said."Any woman who has been abused in any way deserves some listening time... He really ought to do the right thing, which is, as an addict in recovery, make your amends."Addressing the challenge of accepting the court's findings, she added: "It's really hard to let go of the need for someone to be on that pedestal in your memory, because he saved my life. I'll be honest, if I didn't go to rehab, then I'd probably be dead. So I owe my life to him for that."Because he saved my life. I'll be honest, if I didn't go to rehab, then I'd probably be dead. So I owe my life to him for that.""But the most important thing is to admit your mistakes and correct them as much as you can. I'm really sad that he's been found guilty because I really thought that I had a better judge of character than this, but I am open-minded enough to know that I can be wrong.Read More"I feel a lot of sympathy for the accusers and the victims. I really hope that they can find some healing."