Russell Brand has spent his first night in a south London jail after being convicted of rape and three sexual assaults. The 51-year-old comedian was reportedly "petrified" after being taken to a high-security prison, where he underwent a medical examination and strip-search before being placed in a cell ahead of his sentencing.
Brand's first night was spent on a "rock-hard bed in a cramped cell" in a Victorian jail. His usual attire of a suit and silk cravat was replaced with a prison-issue tracksuit. Prison officials are aware that due to his celebrity status and conviction as a sex offender, Brand could be a target. He was assessed for risks of emotional distress or self-harm, a standard procedure for new inmates.
Days before his conviction, Brand admitted on camera that he was scared of going to prison. In an episode of his "Sunday Service" show recorded on October 11, the day before the jury was selected, he told his wife, Laura Gallacher, "I don't like things where it's like you might have to go to prison." His wife responded that the possibility of jail was a reality of being on trial.
Months earlier, in a conversation with Piers Morgan, Brand had stated, "I will be with God wherever I am," when asked about the "reality" of ending up in jail.
Upon arrival at the prison around 6 p.m., Brand had his personal belongings, including his clothing, removed and logged. He was given a prison tracksuit and a "first-night pack" containing toiletries and food. He was allowed one three-minute phone call, believed to be to his wife, who had supported him throughout his trial.
Brand was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan met at a 2009 show, sexually assaulting an MTV worker at a 2004 party, and sexually assaulting a Capital Radio worker in 2005 and a Channel 4 worker in 2009. He was cleared of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
His legal team is reportedly considering all options, including an appeal on the grounds of an unfair trial, and may request he be moved to a different facility. Brand is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Monday and has been informed he faces a significant custodial sentence. A rape conviction can carry a life sentence, with maximum determinate sentences often reaching up to 19 years, while sexual assault convictions can lead to a maximum of 10 years per count.