Russell Brand has been trying not to show fear and staying in his prison cell as much as possible following his conviction for rape, it has been claimed. The disgraced comedian and actor was sentenced to 10 and a half years for rape and sexual assault during his time as a prominent TV and film star. He has since been remanded in HMP Wandsworth, where he is said to spend a lot of time meditating and reading the Bible to avoid other inmates.
First Days in Custody
A source told the Daily Mail: "He's tried hard to maintain a dignified and calm manner, though being jailed for so long is obviously going to be causing him huge distress. He's been trying not to show fear so is staying in his cell as much as he can. Brand got a couple of books from the library – a Bible and some prayer books. He's been reading, meditating and praying for hours on end."
Brand was medically examined and strip-searched before being locked in his cell. He would have then been served dinner and given a "first night pack" containing toiletries and snacks. His breakfast the following morning would have been cereal or porridge, fruit, and a cup of tea. Brand was later spotted clutching his Bible as he made a rare appearance on his own in the exercise yard.
Housing and Security
Brand has been in a one-man cell since Thursday, after he was convicted. On arrival, he was put in the induction wing before being moved to the Care and Separation Unit (CSU), where high-risk inmates are housed. Prisoners in the CSU spend most of their time locked in their cells as their movement is tightly controlled, with limited access to education and social interaction. It's located mostly below the ground floor in what is known as the "bowels" of the prison.
An inmate can be in segregation for up to 72 hours initially, before a review board decides whether it should be extended. It has not yet been decided whether Brand will remain in the protected unit, but guards have already deemed him too famous for the Vulnerable Prisoners' (VP) wing, where rapists and sex offenders are usually held.
Conviction and Sentencing
Brand, now 51, abused his celebrity status to prey on women and was convicted after a trial at Southwark Crown Court of abuse against four victims. One of his fans told how she was raped as a 21-year-old by Brand in 2009 at his luxury London home, while female staffers at Channel 4, MTV, and Capital Radio came forward to reveal how they had been sexually assaulted by the TV star.
On Monday, Mr Justice Bennathan slammed Brand's "staggering arrogance" as he sentenced him to 10-and-a-half years in prison for rape and three counts of sexual assault. The judge told Brand: "About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people's eyes you were funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator."
The judge said Brand's "status protected you" until in 2023 journalists from the Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches first exposed a litany of sexual misconduct, leading to women making complaints to police. He said Brand harboured a "casual arrogant disregard to any woman's right to say no to you", while his fame meant he believed "you could act when you liked and how you liked". The judge said the evidence in the case also showed that Brand's entourage during his celebrity heyday had "indulged your dreadful behaviour".
