Inmates released early from HMP Wandsworth have said Russell Brand is the 'talk of the prison', with claims he has a TV in his room and use of a gym. The comments came as hundreds of prisoners were freed across the country in the latest phase of the government's early release scheme.
Brand's Conditions Inside Wandsworth
Brand was sentenced yesterday to 10 and a half years after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four different women. He is reportedly being held in a cell of his own away from other prisoners.
One released prisoner, jailed for a drug offence, said Brand was on the C block, which houses 100 vulnerable inmates. He said: 'Most share a cell there but [Brand is] on his own. There's a gym there with pull up bars to keep fit and he will have a TV in his room. The prisoners, to be honest, are excited about having a celebrity here we had been expecting his arrival.'
Early Release Scheme Details
The third wave of early release will see around 650 prisoners freed who are serving sentences of more than 882 days (about two years and five months) and fewer than 1,163 days (roughly three years and two months). At least three were released from Wandsworth as they left the building clutching belongings.
A prisoner who had his year-long sentence for a sex offence reduced by three weeks claimed Brand would be able to import luxuries given his wealth. He said: 'He's in C block and has access to a football pitch a basketball court and gym. He can bring in an Xbox or whatever. If you have the money, you are laughing. It's like Sainsbury's in there if you have the money and he obviously will.'
Reactions From Fellow Inmates
Another prisoner, released after spending 65 days behind bars, said Brand had been talk of the prison. He told Metro: 'I didn't see Brand, but he's on his own in a block, I'm told,' adding: 'I'm happy to be out.'
The partner of an inmate at Wandsworth said he has talked to Brand. She said: 'He is devastated and the conditions terrify him but he is praying.' Another woman visiting her brother added: 'My brother says the other prisoners are out to get Brand. My brother is not like that, but some of others want to get money from Brand because he is rich and famous. It always happens.'
Exclusions and Criticism
Sexual offenders, like Brand, are not eligible for early release. Nor are convicts of the most serious crimes such as child sex offenders, criminals guilty of manslaughter, terrorists and murderers serving life sentences.
Jamie Dale, an ex-prisoner who helps run the Old Lags Network, which supports ex-prisoners, was giving out food and toiletries to those released. He said he understood public outcry over the scheme, but said the previous system was not working. He said: 'Prison damages people. And if the public think that warehousing people is going to change them, it's not, it makes them worse. It makes them into more violent people, more unpredictable people, and there is zero rehabilitation going on inside prisons right now because they are about 30% too full.'
Metro has contacted the Department of Justice for comment.
