Laura Brand has visited her husband Russell at HMP Wandsworth for the first time since he was sentenced for rape, as she prepares to support him through his lengthy prison term. The visit took place on Wednesday, November 12.
The 39-year-old, who shares three children with the former comedian, is understood to be committed to supporting her husband behind bars. Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison, although he could be considered for early release.
Warnings of a difficult time inside
His first visit from his wife comes amid warnings that he could face a difficult time inside. Prison insiders have already described the comedian as a "marked man", suggesting he could receive an unfriendly reception from fellow inmates.
HMP Wandsworth, in south-west London, is one of the country's largest prisons, with a population of between 1,300 and 1,500 inmates.
What a typical visit involves
Before arranging a meeting, visitors must have the prisoner's identification number and date of birth. Visits can then be requested through the Government's online booking service or by contacting the prison directly.
The Prison Reform Trust advises relatives and friends to arrive with plenty of time to spare, as visitors will have to undergo security checks before being allowed inside. Photographic identification must be presented on arrival.
Laura can bring money to buy refreshments for herself and Brand from the prison's visitors' shop, although there is generally a limit on how much cash visitors can carry.
Strict rules apply to what can be taken into the prison. Visitors cannot simply pass belongings to inmates, and anyone wishing to bring something for a prisoner must contact the establishment beforehand to check whether permission can be granted.
Once inside, visitors are expected to remain seated throughout the meeting. Visitors can hug the prisoners at the beginning and end of the visit. Prison officers are present while the couple speak and may be able to hear their conversations. Visits can be stopped early if rules are breached or a visitor is considered a security risk or causes concern to others.
Sentence and prison conditions
Brand will be required to remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. He must serve at least seven years of his sentence in prison before he can be considered for release on licence.
Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, 58, has previously spoken about his own experience of life behind bars at Wandsworth and offered an insight into what the comedian might encounter. In his book, Inside, Becker described the psychological toll of imprisonment and the dangers inmates can face.
"You can't sleep because all of it is true," he said of the rumours before he went in. "In jail people do kill themselves, people do harm themselves and people do go crazy. It's the harsh reality when you have never been to prison and that's what your lawyers don't tell you before – maybe not to scare you. HMP Wandsworth is probably one of the toughest prisons in the UK so to be put in there was quite a shock."
Brand is unlikely to remain at Wandsworth for the entirety of his sentence, with prisoners often transferred between establishments during their time in custody.
