Convicted rapist Russell Brand is facing "hell on Earth" and could become a target for attacks inside prison, according to a former inmate. The 51-year-old former Hollywood star is being earmarked for a move to HMP Wakefield, the West Yorkshire jail where paedophile singer Ian Watkins was killed.
Despite the fatal stabbing and the prison's reputation as "Monster Mansion", Wakefield is seen as a much safer option for Brand than Wandsworth prison, where he is currently being held after his conviction for rape and sexual assault.
Wandsworth described as 'hell on earth'
One ex-inmate described Wandsworth, one of England's largest Victorian-era prisons, as "hell on earth". A staff member at the prison said there had been "much excitement" among inmates about Brand's arrival.
"Prisons are boring and Russell Brand being in their space has given them some fun - they've been slamming on cell doors and shouting out his name," the staff member said. "He is a rapist, so there's also been some anger about what he's done. We're very aware of that feeling."
Staff at other prisons say Brand's fame and convictions could make him a target among other inmates. Sex offenders are often among those most at risk of being attacked. One prison governor told the BBC: "When a trial gets plenty of publicity it highlights the crimes the offender has committed. This in turn makes him vulnerable to the inmates own 'justice' system of arbitrary beatings and assaults, especially where sex crimes are involved."
Conditions and transfer plans
Brand is likely to still be in a cell on his own in Wandsworth while he awaits his transfer. The cell would have a bed, a basin and a toilet. He may have a television and kettle, depending on where in the prison he is housed. His possessions, including his mobile phone, clothing and valuables, will have been confiscated on arrival, and he will have been issued with a grey prison tracksuit, described by some ex-inmates as "itchy" and "often the wrong size".
Chris Atkins, who served eight months at the South London jail for tax fraud, said: "The first month is hands-down the worst. The mental shock was colossal for me and it's going to be 10 times worse for him because of the nature of his offences and the height from which he's fallen. He has to come to terms with it and the pure physical shock of suddenly being trapped in a dungeon for weeks on end with nobody to talk to most of the time is ghastly."
A source close to the disgraced comedian said he was doing "remarkably well considering the circumstances" and that he had been moved from isolation to a main wing in the prison.
Wakefield's violent recent history
Brand is being earmarked for a move to HMP Wakefield, one of eight Category A men's prisons in England, which houses some of the country's most depraved killers and sex pests. Ian Watkins, the Lostprophets singer serving a 29-year jail term for child sex crimes, was stabbed to death in the high security prison in October 2025 in an early-morning cell ambush. Two inmates are due to stand trial for murder next year. Child killer Kyle Bevan, 37, was killed a month later, and three convicts received whole-life orders for his murder. The deaths came after a shocking inspection report highlighted a surge in violence at the jail.
Prison bosses feel Wakefield is safer for Brand because staff there are seen as better equipped. One source told The Sun: "It is one of the prisons where high-profile people get sent and - despite what happened to Watkins - is deemed a safer place for Brand. Wakefield is considered a good option because Brand has quite a long sentence and will be in for at least seven years. It also specialises in sex offenders and Brand will be able to do courses which he will have to complete as part of his rehab."
