Russell Brand has been warned by a former inmate that he is a 'dead man walking' inside HMP Wandsworth, where he is serving a 10-year-and-six-month sentence for rape and sexual assault.
The former prisoner, released from HMP Wandsworth last year, cautioned that Brand is a 'marked man' as he begins his decade-long stretch behind bars. The ex-inmate told The Sun that the disgraced comedian is 'in real trouble' while he remains at the facility.
Warning to 'keep his head down'
The former 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. 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 jailed for 10 years and six months at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. Mr Justice Bennathan declared that Brand was a dangerous "sexual predator" who displayed "staggering arrogance" and "contempt" towards women.
The judge addressed Brand directly: "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 further stated that the comedian had told a "series of lies" about the women he had abused.
Offences and impact
Brand was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old admirer at his Hampstead home after the pair met at his stand-up show in 2009. He additionally sexually assaulted a television worker in 2009 and 'sloppily' kissed a radio colleague without her consent. Years prior to that, Brand also groped an MTV employee at a Soho party in 2004.
The victim who was assaulted 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."
A further victim revealed the attack left her with no choice but to take time away from work and return to live 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."
