Russell Brand has been described as "shaken and quiet" during his first day in prison, with sources warning he is being kept apart from the wider prison population over safety concerns. The comedian was convicted of one count of rape and sexual assault against three other women at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.
Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday, 9 November, with the prison where he will serve his sentence yet to be confirmed, as the decision lies with the UK Prison Service. However, sources indicate he is currently being held at Wandsworth ahead of his hearing on Monday.
First Night in Custody
Sources have revealed he was "petrified" at the prospect of spending his first night in custody, and he is reportedly being "watched around the clock". Further details have now come to light following his first day in prison, with sources describing him as "shaken and quiet".
He is reportedly being kept apart from the general prison population amid serious safety concerns. Brand has been described as "shaken and quiet" during his first days behind bars, with sources warning he is "in real danger".
A source told The Sun last night: "Brand's first day in jail was a real shock to his system and a wake-up call. He looked shaken and was quiet. A horrible, noisy and dirty jail like Wandsworth is a world away from his glamorous Hollywood lifestyle."
Safety Concerns and Security Measures
"Brand has been put in a cell and is being kept away from other inmates because he is in real danger due to his offences, his wealth and who he is," the source added. "Some of the officers and inmates will be excited to have a celebrity in there. But a lot of the cons would want to do him some damage, so he will not be allowed to mix in Wandsworth, and it will be safer for him. They will want to ship him out as soon as possible. He will find prison food pretty awful and have to supplement it by buying stuff."
Brand is facing a substantial prison term following his conviction for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. The jury unanimously found Brand guilty of offences committed against four women between 2004 and 2009.
Sentencing and Charges
Mr Justice Bennathan warned him that he was facing a "significant custodial sentence" before ordering him to be held in custody. The judge declined to allow Brand the chance to bid farewell to his children, concerned he might abscond rather than return to court on Monday for sentencing. Brand responded loudly "yes My Lord".
He has been convicted of raping a 21 year old woman whom he met following a comedy show at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009. Brand was additionally found guilty of sexually assaulting an MTV staff member at a bar in Soho, a woman at the Choice FM studios, and a Channel 4 employee who had been directed to provide him with a massage.
Brand had faced a total of seven charges: three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of attempted indecent assault. He was acquitted of raping a woman at a hotel in Bournemouth in 1999, during the Labour Party conference at which Brand had been performing at a cabaret show. The defendant was cleared of an attempted indecent assault charge following allegations that he grabbed a woman's arm and dragged her towards a toilet in central London in 2001. He was also acquitted of orally raping a woman in a bar toilet in London, an attack alleged to have taken place while the pair were attending a birthday celebration together in Soho.
Speaking to Times Radio earlier today, the Prime Minister described Brand's actions as "horrifying". He said he would "like to praise the bravery of the women, the victims in the case, who've come forward and had the courage to speak out". Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday, having been found guilty of one count of rape and three charges of sexual assault.
