Russell Brand speaks out on jail fears as he spends first day inside – ‘God with me’
The disgraced star – who has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing for rape and sexual assault on Monday – has spoken about his fears of being locked up
Convicted rapist Russell Brand has opened up about his upcoming prison days and fears, using religion
Convicted rapist Russell Brand has opened up about his fears of rotting in jail as he faces a ‘significant’ stint behind bars. Yesterday, (November 5), a jury at Southwark Crown Court found the 51-year-old comedian guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Following the guilty verdicts, the trial judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, told Brand that he faces an inevitable and “significant custodial term”.
Brand’s defense team made an application for bail so he could return home to say goodbye to his children over the weekend, but the judge denied it, remanding him into custody immediately. He is now being held in prison ahead of his formal sentencing on Monday (November 9).
The rapist has been using religion as his silverlining(Image: PA)
His wife, Laura Gallacher, left Southwark Crown Court in tears yesterday as she read aloud a message from a supporter telling him God would be with him in prison and that he would “get through it”, the Daily Mail reported.
In an episode of a weekly show Brand co-hosted with Gallacher, leading up to the trial, he leaned heavily into a public persona as a born-again Christian, frequently wearing crucifixes to court and speaking about his faith.
In a clip of the episode recorded on October 11, Brand discussed his anxiety about going to prison right before jury selection began. As he tapped Gallacher on the shoulder, Brand said: “I don’t like things where it’s like you might have to go to prison.”
She responded: “Yeah, I know, but that is just the nature of what a trial is.” Brand was previously asked by Piers Morgan if he had faced the “reality” that he could end up in jail.
Brand’s public pivot to Christianity occurred directly after the sexual assault accusations came to light(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
He replied: “I will be with God wherever I am.” In criminal psychology there’s a recognised pattern often described as “finding God at the courthouse steps”, where defendants make a sudden, public shift to intense religiosity during an active investigation or trial, Psychology Today reported.
Experts argue this can serve psychological and social purposes when someone faces public backlash, potential long sentences, or career-ending accusations. One function is “character rehabilitation”: projecting repentance to reframe the person from “dangerous offender” to “redeemed” and morally reformed.
HMP Wandsworth in South West London (Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Brand is said to have been petrified after spending his first night behind bars. The ex Hollywood actor is believed to be being held at London’s Wandsworth jail.
Reports claim he was whisked to the high-security prison, where he was strip-searched and marched to a cramped cell.
He was given a ‘first-night pack’ which consists of toiletries including a toothbrush and toothpaste and a food pack including cereal, tea, milk and sugar.
The packs also contain treats including Polos, juice sticks, and biscuits..
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