Russell Brand is being kept under close watch in prison amid concerns he could harm himself after being sentenced to more than a decade behind bars for crimes against women. The former comedian was jailed for 10 years and six months on Monday after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
Prison insiders said no chances are being taken to keep Brand safe, noting that the first few days are the most dangerous for new inmates.
First days in custody
"He's not been in trouble before really," an insider said. "It is sure to be terrifying and a complete shock to the system. He's barely eating. I think it has all hit him all at once that he has not gotten away with it."
"Regardless of the crime or the opinions of those who work there, the prison service has a duty of care to Brand, and they must keep him safe as much as they can."
Like all new prisoners, the first few days after receiving a long sentence are when the closest eye is kept on inmates, as it is the most dangerous time when hope may be lost.
Monitoring and housing
"They are watching him like a hawk, with pretty much 24/7 hour care at the moment," the insider said. "They will not want anything to happen to him, and it is likely that support will be given to ensure he is not starting to feel too low."
Brand was initially placed in the Care and Separation Unit after being taken to HMP Wandsworth, a Category B prison in South West London. A Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment has been carried out, and officers have decided to house Brand on his own amid safety fears. He is understood to be in a single cell on C-wing, where many prisoners are considered vulnerable.
"It is not a nicer part," the insider continued. "But it is probably being seen as an acclimatisation period for him. He won't be staying there indefinitely, and then things will certainly change."
Conditions at HMP Wandsworth
The prison has been condemned as "unsafe, squalid and overcrowded" in recent inspection reports. A report by its Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said the jail is overcrowded, with prisoners housed in "unsafe, overcrowded, unsanitary and squalid conditions."
The IMB also reported that thousands of coats, blankets and portions of soup had to be ordered for inmates when the heating system failed a year ago, with temperatures dropping as low as 12C in winter. Staffing remains an urgent issue, with around one third of staff absent or unavailable every day on average, increasing the hours inmates spend locked in cells.
