Russell Brand must secure a prison job and avoid being too loud or too quiet to survive the next seven years behind bars, according to two former prisoners who have shared their insights with the Daily Star.
The 51-year-old was sentenced this week to 10 years and six months after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009. He is being held at HMP Wandsworth and faces spending two-thirds of his sentence, around seven years, in prison.
Ex-inmates advise getting a prison job
Rich Jones, a former British Army veteran who served seven years in prisons including HMP Oakwood and HMP Lowdham Grange for conspiracy to supply cocaine, said Brand should keep busy and find work. He said: "I give him a few months, he will settle into life and he will just be another person on the wing. Nobody special, but if he tries to be outspoken, or articulate in there, he may just get chinned."
Jones, author of The Lost Soldier series, said prison is good at identifying people's talents and that Brand would likely be placed in education or work. He said: "It may well be in a position in education, or work, because he will have to toe the line. He will have to work in some aspect. He can't sit there and do nothing. It doesn't really work that way. He will need to engage in some sort of service."
Warnings about violence and conduct
Francesca Fattore, who was incarcerated at HMP Bronzefield for drug offences and had an adjoining cell with Mairead Philpott, warned that Brand could face danger because everyone knows who he is. She said: "I really really think, it's just my opinion, that something bad could happen to him because of the fact that everyone knows. It's all over the papers, it's gone viral and people doing life just don't care."
Fattore agreed that getting a job was essential and suggested Brand would be better off getting a cleaning job on his wing. She said: "He has to get a job unless he gets signed off for being mentally ill which means he just gets locked in a cell all day except for association time. But he will probably be better off getting a cleaning job on his wing."
She also advised Brand on how to conduct himself, saying: "I think the best thing for him to do is not stay too quiet if that makes sense but not be as loud. He doesn't want to become really, really in himself because I don't think that's going to do any favours. But he definitely is better off not being as loud and vocal as he is, not until he knows his surroundings, and he knows he is going to be safe."
Former prison governor Vanessa Frake echoed the warning about Brand's behaviour, telling the Break The Ice channel: "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."
