Russell Brand's fellow prisoners have been slamming their doors and shouting his name since the disgraced comedian arrived at HMP Wandsworth, a member of staff has claimed. Brand, 51, 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 Wandsworth Prison, where he is said to spend a lot of time meditating and reading the Bible to avoid other inmates. A member of staff said there had been "much excitement" among the inmates about his arrival, as well as "some anger" about the rapist's presence.
Inmates react to Brand's arrival
The staff member told the BBC: "Prisons are boring and Russell Brand being in their space has given them some fun - they've been slamming on cell doors and shouting out his name. He is a rapist, so there's also been some anger about what he's done."
Brand has been in a one-man cell since 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.
Conditions in the Care and Separation Unit
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 is 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.
Arrival procedures and daily routine
He 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.
Brand's breakfast the following morning would have been cereal or porridge, fruit, and a cup of tea. He was later spotted clutching his Bible as he made a rare appearance on his own in the exercise yard.
Brand 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. 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".
