Georgina Bailey, the granddaughter of British actor Andrew Sachs, has spoken out about the consequences of the 2008 scandal with comedian Russell Brand, who was recently found guilty of rape and sexual assault against four women, on her life.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, the 41-year-old revealed that her relationship with Brand had been consensual, but a phone call between him and presenter Jonathan Ross on the BBC show, where they publicly revealed intimate details of their relationship, caused a huge scandal. She says that as a result, she did not communicate with her grandparents, Andrew Sachs and his wife, for eight years.

Bailey described Brand as a “sex addict” and “seriously ill”, insisting that his sentence was fair. She added that, although she did not experience abuse from him, the women’s testimonies during the trial were compelling and that he must accept responsibility for his actions. She also confessed that after the scandal she faced serious problems with alcohol and drugs. Brand helped her financially with rehabilitation, paying tens of thousands of pounds for her treatment. Today, Bailey says she has been alcohol or drug-free for six years.

Russell Brand was found guilty on November 5 of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women, while he was acquitted of several other charges. His sentencing is expected on November 9.