Russell Brand could be transferred to HMP Wakefield, the high-security prison where paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death last year, according to reports. Brand was sentenced to just over a decade in prison on Monday after being convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault, and is currently held at HMP Wandsworth in London.
Assessed for Transfer to Category A Facility
The former Hollywood star is now being assessed for a switch to HMP Wakefield, The Sun reports. The Category A facility is considered safer for Brand because staff are seen as better equipped, despite the prison's history of violence.
HMP Wakefield is one of eight Category A high-security men's prisons in England. Around two-thirds of its inmates have been convicted of sexual offences.
Violence and Notable Inmates
The prison earned the nickname "Monster Mansion" due to the notorious sex offenders and killers it holds. Watkins was stabbed to death in October of last year, followed by the murder of child killer Kyle Bevan a month later.
Current inmates include Roy Whiting, killer of eight-year-old Sarah Payne, child molester and killer Sidney Cooke, and Jeremy Bamber, convicted of murdering five members of his family in 1985. Reynhard Sinaga, convicted of 159 sex offences including 136 rapes, is serving a life term there.
Source Details on Potential Move
A source told The Sun: "Brand will have an incredibly tough time. Brand is being risk-assessed for a move to Wakefield. There are still some hoops to go through but staff at the prison are expecting him."
The source added: "He is still at Category B Wandsworth at the moment but is likely to be moved in the next few days or weeks. And Wakefield is the most likely place. 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."
The source also noted: "There are much higher levels of staffing at them. Officers there are better trained and have more resources to look after Brand. But if the move does go ahead, he will have an incredibly tough time. There are some really nasty killers and sex offenders there and Brand will have to kept away from them initially. He's quite likely to go in and be put on segregation, but that can't last forever and he will then have to on a wing."
Sentence and Rehabilitation
When Brand was jailed, Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told him he would have to serve two-thirds of his sentence — seven years — before being eligible for release on licence. The judge criticised Brand's "staggering arrogance" and labelled him a "sexual predator" who exploited his status to target fans.
The source said: "Brand will not be happy about the move, if it goes ahead. He would be hoping for a much softer low-security jail, and he might end up in one towards the end of his sentence. It's pretty likely he'll have to pay for protection at Wakefield, because of who he is. Violent inmates and gangs will target him because of his wealth, and he might end up being 'taxed' to keep himself safe. But 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."
The Express has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.
