Russell Brand set for transfer to ‘monster’ jail where paedophile Ian Watkins was murdered

Russell Brand is currently being held at HMP Wandsworth in London (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/Press Association)

Russell Brand is reportedly set to be transferred to the prison where convicted paedophile and Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was murdered.

The disgraced comedian, 51, was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

After his sentencing, police confirmed further women had come forward and prosecutors were assessing whether to bring additional charges.

It has now been reported that Brand is being assessed for a move from HMP Wandsworth, where he is currently serving out that years-long sentence, to HMP Wakefield.

Based in West Yorkshire, the prison is Category A, which is a high-security classification designated for male convicts who pose the greatest threat to members of the public.

Sources have told The Sun it will be safer for Brand as staff are better equipped, but one also told the publication he will ‘have an incredibly tough time’ at the prison, which it dubbed a ‘monster mansion’. 

The disgraced comedian, 51, was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years in prison on Monday (Picture: Elizabeth Cook/Press Association)

A source told the publication: ‘Brand is being risk-assessed for a move to Wakefield. There are still some hoops to go through but staff at the prison are expecting him.

‘He is still at Category B Wandsworth at the moment but is likely to be moved in the next few days or weeks. And Wakefield is the most likely place.

‘It is one of the prisons where high-profile people get sent and – despite what happened to Watkins – is deemed a safer place for Brand.’

The 48-year-old singer was fatally stabbed in his cell last year, while serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

HMP Wakefield is a Category A prison for male convicts who pose the greatest threat to members of the public (Picture: Gareth Copley/PA) Ian Watkins was fatally stabbed while serving a prison sentence at HMP Wakefield (Picture: South Wales Police/PA Wire)

Watkins had already been attacked inside Wakefield due to the nature of his crimes, including an incident in 2023, when he was left ‘fighting for his life’ after being stabbed repeatedly. He was rushed to hospital after officers found him, six hours after being taken hostage by three other inmates.

Speaking in court, prison officer Simon Rothwell, who was stationed on the same wing as Watkins for around 10 years before the paedophile was moved, said he was ‘vulnerable’ because other prisoners ‘knew he had money’.

The London prison Brand is currently being held in is a Victorian-era, 170-year-old facility where conditions have been described as ‘squalid’.

Due to his celebrity status and fortune, Brand is likely being held on the Vulnerable Prisoner (VP) wing, where inmates are watched daily and assigned welfare officers.

Metro contacted the Ministry of Justice and Russell Brand’s representative for comment on this story.

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