A former inmate at HMP Wandsworth has warned that Russell Brand, now held at the jail, is a 'marked man' who is 'in real trouble'. The ex-comedian and actor was sentenced to more than a decade in prison after being convicted of multiple sex crimes, including rape and several counts of sexual assault.
The former Wandsworth inmate, who was released last year, told The Sun that the 51-year-old Brand is a 'dead man walking' as long as he remains at that prison. He said Brand 'needed to survive' the violent institution by 'keeping his head down' until he is moved to a different prison.
Former inmate's warning
The ex-inmate said: “If Brand stays in Wandsworth, he’s in real trouble – a dead man walking. He won’t be there permanently but needs to survive until he’s got his permanent move.”
He added: “Wandsworth is violent, corrupt, dirty and noisy. He will be so far out of his comfort zone. When I was there staff paid prisoners to attack other inmates and violence would break out over the smallest thing. Brand will be a marked man while he is there and – if he is to stay safe – needs to move quickly.”
Conviction and sentencing
Last week, Brand was found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults, and was then jailed for 10 years and six months at Southwark Crown Court. Mr Justice Bennathan said Brand was a dangerous “sexual predator” who showed “staggering arrogance” and “contempt” for women.
The judge told Brand: “About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous. You were clever – and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.” He added that the comic had told a “series of lies” about the women he abused.
Reaction and impact
The predator showed no emotion while being sentenced but later mouthed “I love you” and “we will be OK” to his wife Laura Gallacher when being led away to the cells. Gallacher became visibly upset as Brand was jailed and held back tears as she left Southwark Crown Court.
A prison van thought to be containing the disgraced star was targeted by members of the public as it drove away from the court, The Sun reports. The bystanders started banging on the side of the vehicle, with one man shouting: “Not so funny now Russell.”
After the jury delivered their guilty verdicts, Mr Justice Bennathan told him: “You’ve been convicted of a number of offences including rape. The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term.”
Brand was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan at his Hampstead home after they met at his stand-up show in 2009. He also sexually assaulted a TV worker in 2009 and 'sloppily' kissed a radio staffer without her consent. Years before that, Brand also groped an MTV employee at a party in Soho in 2004. His crimes had a devastating impact on his victims.
The victim who was attacked by him at a radio station in 2005 said: “Russell Brand has managed to move on and even forget that he sexually assaulted me violently in a very public place and in front of people.” Another of his victims said the attack on her forced her to take time off work and move back in with her parents. She added: “I hope the court can understand the large and overarching impact this has had on me, and continues to have on me to this day.”
