Russell Brand has reportedly been left horrified by the reality of life behind bars after asking prison officers whether he could have some privacy when using the toilet. The disgraced comedian, 51, is said to have struggled to adjust to conditions at HMP Wandsworth, where he is being held following his conviction for rape and sexual assault.
A prison source described the moment Brand was shown his cell, suggesting the reality of his situation had finally begun to sink in. A source told the Daily Mail: “This wasn’t a temporary inconvenience or something he could talk his way out of. This was going to be his life for the next seven years.
“He asked whether he could have some privacy when using the toilet, which gives you an idea of how difficult he’s finding the adjustment.”
Arrival at Wandsworth
Brand was reportedly visibly shaken when he arrived at the south-west London prison, with another source claiming he appeared pale and frightened despite attempting to project an air of confidence. The source said: “When he arrived, he came floating in almost as though he was the Messiah. There was this air of superiority about him – but you could tell immediately that it was an act.”
His arrival has also reportedly attracted hostility from other inmates, who have taunted him over his convictions. One prisoner was said to have shouted: “You’re not a superstar in here, Brand. You’re just another nonce.”
The source claimed Brand had already been warned that his usual arrogance would not serve him well in prison. A woman visiting her son at the prison said: “He’s quite an arrogant person really, so the staff told him ‘arrogance doesn’t work around here’.”
Vulnerable Prisoner Status
Brand, who has reportedly been advised to consider cutting his distinctive long hair and beard to make himself less recognisable, is said to be particularly vulnerable because of his celebrity status and the nature of his convictions. He is currently being held on a wing for vulnerable prisoners after initially spending time in the prison’s Care and Separation Unit. Following a risk assessment, officers decided he should remain in a cell on his own.
The former television star, who is reported to have a net worth of around £15 million, is understood to be on a standard prison regime. This means he has around £19.80 a week to spend in the prison canteen, alongside access to a television, DVD player and telephone calls.
Conditions and Sentence
Despite his wealth and former celebrity lifestyle, conditions at Wandsworth are a far cry from the luxury hotels and lavish events Brand once attended. A recent report by the prison’s Independent Monitoring Board described conditions as “inhumane”, “unsafe”, “overcrowded” and “squalid”. It found that prisoner-on-prisoner assaults occurred on average once a day, while drugs, mobile phones and weapons were regularly being smuggled into the jail, often using drones.
Brand is also said to have been barely eating and requested vegetarian meals, while reportedly asking a prison chaplain about joining a Bible study group.
Former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson said authorities would need to consider both the risks Brand faces from other inmates and the risks he could pose to others. He also warned that Brand’s future progress through the prison system would depend partly on whether he accepted responsibility for his behaviour and completed offending behaviour programmes.
Brand was sentenced to ten years and six months in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and has denied being a sexual predator.
