Russell Brand has reportedly been moved to HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire, a category C prison that offers inmates activities including yoga, choir and indoor bowls.
The 51-year-old comedian was moved out of HMP Wandsworth on Friday, according to The Sun on Sunday. He was jailed after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others during his career.
Prison Facilities and Move Details
Littlehey prison, located in the East of England, is a purpose-built category C prison dedicated to reducing re-offending by providing education and qualification opportunities to prisoners. The facility also hosts an inter-wing football league.
According to the paper, concerns for Brand's safety and him being deemed a low escape risk could have prompted the move. His new confines reportedly consist of a single-person cell on the prison's E Wing, and he has yet to make contact with any of the other 1,200-odd inmates housed at the facility.
Reaction to the Move
Retired prison governor Vanessa Frake said of the reported move: "I am absolutely flabbergasted that he is in a Category C prison.
"He has no previous convictions, but he has got a substantial sentence — and there's possibly more in the pipeline.
"His high public profile and nature of the convictions, and his vulnerability to attacks will all have been encompassed in his risk assessment. But I am surprised they have downgraded him to a Category C already. I'd have thought Category B would have been more appropriate."
Brand was sentenced to a 10-and-a-half-year prison term on Monday afternoon. He is expected to serve two-thirds of his prison sentence before being released on licence. He will be on the sex offenders' register for life. The Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on individual prisoners.
