Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison today after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. A former detective has warned that the convicted rapist will likely be attacked by inmates "within the next two years."
Sentencing at Southwark Crown Court
Brand learned his fate inside Southwark Crown Court days after the jury's verdict. During the hearing, the judge called him a "sexual predator" who told a "series of lies" during the trial.
Mark Williams-Thomas, an ex-police detective, believes Brand's wealth will not be enough to protect him behind bars. Speaking to Jeremy Vine, he said: "When he gets sentenced, he'll most probably go to a vulnerable person's wing but he won't spend much time outside because he's got to be protected. There will be people in prison who want to take him out."
Williams-Thomas added: "And those people will negotiate with guards to try and find the opportunity for him to be alone so that he can be attacked. And so I would suspect within the next couple of years, he will be assaulted to some degree."
Concerns Over Drug Relapse
The former officer, who helped uncover Jimmy Savile's crimes, also spoke on 30 Minute Crime about his conviction that Brand could relapse into drug use while inside. Brand began taking drugs as a teenager, with heroin taking over his life after he experimented with cannabis and crack cocaine.
The 51-year-old has remained sober since December 2002, but Williams-Thomas warned: "The final point is that this is a man who has got an addiction habit and drugs in jail are rife. They are on a huge scale so the question would be is he able to resist drugs when he's in jail?"
He continued: "And I don't think I'm being unfair to him. This is a man who has got serious addictions. The chances of him falling back into using drugs, I think, are very, very high."
Verdict and Police Response
A jury convicted Brand of rape and three sexual assaults last Thursday, while the former actor and comedian was also acquitted of two additional rape charges and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.
Following the verdict, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who headed the Metropolitan Police investigation, commended the "extraordinary courage, resilience and determination" of the women who stepped forward.
He said: "Despite intense media and public scrutiny, they relived deeply personal and traumatic experiences and placed their trust in us. Without their bravery, this outcome would not have been possible."
Furphy added: "Brand used his influence, status and fame to prey on and exploit women. As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be."
