Russell Brand has been transferred to HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire in a covert operation, days after being jailed for rape and sexual assault. The 51-year-old former comedian was moved from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London to the Category C prison near Huntingdon on Friday, November 13.
The 90-mile journey was carried out in a secure prison van, with Brand arriving under escort. Sources told The Sun on Sunday that he has been placed in a single-person cell on E Wing and has so far had no contact with fellow inmates.
Security concerns behind the move
One insider claimed: "Brand looked like he was s******* himself as he was led to his cell. He was heard asking for blankets on his first night and he's had extra officers looking after him since he arrived."
The relocation was reportedly driven by fears over Brand's vulnerability due to his high-profile convictions and the threat of attacks from other prisoners, reports the Express.
Brand had previously been held in segregation at HMP Wandsworth, where he was reportedly kept in a basement block containing around 20 cells. An insider described the conditions as particularly grim, with prisoners reportedly spending most of the day locked up and being allowed out once daily to shower and collect a hot meal.
Category C placement sparks controversy
HMP Littlehey houses male sex offenders and offers facilities including a football pitch, two gyms, indoor bowls, yoga, choir sessions and origami classes. However, the decision to place Brand in a Category C prison has drawn criticism.
Retired prison governor Vanessa Frake told the newspaper she was "absolutely flabbergasted" by the transfer, saying she would have expected a Category B prison to be more appropriate given the length of his sentence and the possibility of further charges.
Former Met detective Mick Neville said the move to Littlehey was likely intended to safeguard Brand and prison staff, arguing that placing him in a higher-security jail could leave him vulnerable to attacks from dangerous inmates.
Sentence and ongoing investigations
The move comes after Brand was handed a ten and a half year prison sentence on November 9. He was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women, and was acquitted of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Brand denied the allegations and maintained that his sexual relationships had been consensual. His wife Laura, 39, is reportedly permitted to visit once a week, although the journey from the couple's Oxfordshire home is around 180 miles there and back. The Metropolitan Police is also investigating further allegations involving the comedian.
The Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on individual prisoners.
