Russell Brand has reportedly been given an unusual nickname by fellow inmates after spending his first few nights inside a London prison.
The 51-year-old British actor is believed to have been placed in one of the most restrictive sections of HMP Wandsworth, where his first night behind bars was reportedly far from pleasant.
According to the Daily Mail, an inmate smeared or threw feces and urine around a prison cell, creating a disturbing situation. The incident allegedly occurred inside the prison’s Care and Separation Unit (CSU), where Brand is currently being held while awaiting sentencing.
The unit is commonly referred to by prison officers and inmates as ‘The Block’ or ‘The Seg’, according to VT. Brand’s placement in the restricted area has reportedly led to fellow inmates giving him the nickname ‘Russell from the Block’.
His separation from the general prison population is understood to be connected to concerns over his personal safety.
Russell Brand’s First Experiences Behind Bars
One source claimed that Brand had been ‘petrified’ before spending his first night in prison and is now being kept under supervision ‘around the clock.’
“Some of the officers and inmates will be excited to have a celebrity in there,” a source told The Sun.
“But a lot of the cons would want to do him some damage, so he will not be allowed to mix in Wandsworth, and it will be safer for him (to be kept in the CSU).”
The source also described Brand’s initial experience of prison as a major shock, suggesting that the reality of life behind bars was very different from the world he had previously known.
“Brand’s first day in jail was a real shock to his system and a wake-up call. He looked shaken and was quiet. A horrible, noisy and dirty jail like Wandsworth is a world away from his glamorous Hollywood lifestyle.”
It remains unclear where Brand will be housed in the longer term, as his permanent prison placement has yet to be confirmed.
His arrival at HMP Wandsworth follows a jury’s decision to find him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. The offences were alleged to have taken place between 2004 and 2009.
However, Brand was cleared of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
The verdict was delivered at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Friday, November 5, after jurors spent two days deliberating before reaching their decision.