Russell Brand has been moved to a new jail for his safety just days into his sentence, it has been reported. The disgraced entertainer was last week found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Just days ago, he was handed down a sentence of more than ten years, while the judge described him as a "sexual predator".
Secret transfer to Category C prison
It has now emerged that the 51-year-old rapist was taken in a secret operation to Category C HMP Littlehey, Cambs, on Friday. The prison houses only male sexual offenders, and inmates can play football and bowls, The Sun reports. It is understood that prisoners can also attend origami classes, yoga and choir sessions.
Brand was transferred there just five days into his sentence. Brand was assessed for HMP Wakefield, but it was reportedly deemed too unsafe for the former actor.
Safety concerns and risk assessment
It has been reported that Brand asked for extra blankets on his first night at the cushy new jail. Retired prison governor Vanessa Frake told the newspaper: "His high public profile and nature of the convictions, and his vulnerability to attacks will all have been encompassed in his risk assessment. But I am surprised they have downgraded him to a Category C already. I’d have thought Category B would have been more appropriate."
Brand had been held in solitary at a dingy "punishment block" at HMP Wandsworth over fears that other inmates would attack him. It is understood he was driven 90 miles in a Serco prison van, self-contained in a tiny cell, preventing anyone from seeing inside. Sources told the Sun that he was marched by 10 guards to Cell 103 at the new prison.
Life at Littlehey and public reaction
Reports say he is in the E wing, which is where prisoners spend their early weeks at Littlehey. He has not had any contact with other inmates, of whom there are over 1,000. Brand can play in the inter-wing football league on the astroturf pitch and enjoy quizzes and board games. Other notable criminals who have been in this prison include disgraced PR guru Max Clifford.
Ex-Met Police detective Mick Neville said people would see Littlehey as "Brand being given a soft option". He added: "But the prison service have clearly decided that putting him into Monster Mansion would be a real risk to him and soak up massive resources to keep him safe. After the murder of Ian Watkins, to put another celebrity like Brand in Wakefield would put him and officers at risk."
Brand's wife Laura will be able to visit him once per week. However, the prison is 180 miles from their Oxfordshire mansion.
Sentencing details
When handing down his sentence, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan described Brand as a "sexual predator" who told a "series of lies" and exhibited "staggering arrogance". He began his sentence by saying Brand, 51, was "in many people's eyes funny and charismatic" 20 years ago, before calling him a "sexual predator".
Brand was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for raping a 21-year-old fan he met after one of his Hammersmith Apollo shows in 2009; nine months for sexually assaulting a woman at a bar in London in 2004, where he grabbed her breasts; 18 months for sexually assaulting a woman at the Choice FM studios in London in 2005; and eight months for sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker in 2009, where he laid his head into her groin area without her consent. These sentences will be served concurrently, bringing the total up to 10 years and six months.
Mr Justice Bennathan said Brand acted "how you liked and when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live". Mr Justice Bennathan reduced Brand's sentence by one year due to mitigating factors, including the fact he had no significant previous convictions.
