Russell Brand Sentenced in Rape Case

6:52 AM PT -- After the sentencing, two of Russell Brand's victims thanked authorities. One victim said, "I am grateful to the support from the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (IVSA), the police team who from the start took my testimony seriously and the prosecution team who have been with me throughout this process. I do not believe that I could have come this far without them.”

The second victim said, "I am eternally grateful to the police and prosecution team for their support and for allowing my voice to be heard. I finally feel believed.”

Russell Brand better get used to being behind bars ... because he was just sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison.

Just before delivering Brand's fate, the judge castigated Russell for the callous manner in which he treated the 3 victims, for whom he was convicted of rape and sexual assault.

Regarding one victim, the judge slammed Brand for lying about grabbing her breasts, causing her to feel sick and traumatized every time she saw him on TV after the abuse she suffered by his hands.

The judge also blasted Brand for throwing another victim up against a wall in front of an "audience" and then kissing her all over her body and squeezing her breasts in a "very rough" manner. The judge added that Brand totally "humiliated" this victim.

As for the third victim, the judge said Brand had consensual sex with the woman before turning her over, ripping off his condom, and anally sodomizing her, causing her to bleed. The judge noted that Brand left the woman distraught, terrified and super worried that she had contracted HIV -- the disease that leads to AIDS.

As you know, Russell was convicted in the UK Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The scandalized star was acquitted of two other rape charges and attempted indecent assault ... but London's Metropolitan Police confirmed last week they're investigating the actor for two more alleged rapes.