Russell Brand, convicted of rape and sexual assault, could face serious danger in prison if he makes a critical mistake, according to a former security chief at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months at Southwark Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. His wife, Laura Brand, was present in court. Before sentencing, the judge described Brand as a "sexual predator" who "told lies" during the trial.
Security Expert's Warning
Vanessa Frake, former head of security at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, said Brand's attitude could determine his safety. Frake, who managed notorious offenders including Rose West and Myra Hindley, explained: "It just depends on how people perceive him and how he handles himself. If he goes in with the arrogant, you know, I am the Messiah as he walked into court, then yeah, quite honestly. There'll be people who are doing whole life orders - they've got nothing to lose. And as much as you say you want to keep him safe, you can't be there 24/7."
Speaking on the Break The Ice channel, Frake noted that some inmates will seek to befriend Brand because they "love a celebrity," but warned: "There are those who will want to score a notch on a bedpost AKA Ian Huntley to say they've taken out a celebrity."
Inmate Perceptions and Risk
Frake, author of "The Governor: My Life Inside Britain's Most Notorious Prisons," added: "There are those who don't care about the celebrity status, just what he's convicted of, rape, sexual assault, which in the pecking order in a prison comes pretty much down at the bottom."
Former detective Mark Williams-Thomas also discussed the risks Brand faces, speaking to 30 Minute Crime in response to Jeremy Vine's question about the sex offender's security in custody.
Likely Assault Predictions
Williams-Thomas said: "When he gets sentenced, he'll most probably go to a vulnerable person's wing but he won't spend much time outside because he's got to be protected. There will be people in prison who want to take him out."
He added: "And those people will negotiate with guards to try and find the opportunity for him to be alone so that he can be attacked. And so I would suspect within the next couple of years, he will be assaulted to some degree."
Brand received his sentence following a jury's guilty verdict last week. During the trial, he was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.
