Russell Brand has spent his first night behind bars as he begins his sentence of 10 years and six months for rape and sexual assault. The disgraced entertainer was jailed after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following proceedings at Southwark Crown Court.
Judge's sentencing remarks
Mr Justice Bennathan branded the father of three a "sexual predator" as he handed down the sentence, adding: "Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent."
Brand, 51, is currently being held at HMP Wandsworth in London, where a former inmate has warned he will be a "dead man walking". The ex-prisoner cautioned that the actor will be a "marked man" and urged him to "keep his head down" as he embarks on his sentence and until he is transferred to another facility.
Warning from former inmate
The former inmate said: "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."
Brand is expected to serve seven years of his sentence behind bars, with the remaining portion on licence and subject to stringent conditions. He is also likely to face lifetime notification requirements upon completion of his full sentence, obliging him to disclose details of his personal life to police.
Legal expert predicts appeal
However, one legal expert believes this court appearance will not be Brand's last. Raj Chada, head of criminal defence at Hodge Jones and Allen, said: "There can be no mistaking the gravity and sickening nature of Brand's offending, but his legal team will view the sentence as harsh. They will most likely appeal against his sentence, arguing that the judge has made an example of Brand while under the pressure of the media spotlight."
"The court took Brand's celebrity status into account, as well the abuse of any trust that victims would have placed in him. We heard heartrending and powerful statements from the victims today, who vividly described the impact of Brand the sexual predator on their lives. Today is a day for them to have finally achieved justice. However, while many will see today's sentence as just and fair, I do not think this is the last we will hear from Russell Brand and his legal team."
Victims' impact statements and reaction
Prior to sentencing, Brand's victims delivered a series of powerful impact statements before the court, laying bare the devastating toll his crimes had taken on their lives since they were carried out. The rapist displayed minimal emotion upon hearing his sentence, aside from silently mouthing the words "I love you" and "we will be OK" to his wife, Laura Gallacher, who had supported him throughout his trial.
Laura appeared visibly upset as she learnt of her husband's sentence and seemed to be suppressing tears while the judge delivered it. Brand's sentence will not fall under the new early release scheme as sex offenders - alongside murderers - are excluded from the scheme.
