warned

AN ex-con at the jail where rapist Russell Brand is being held has warned the fallen star needs to “keep his head down” as he is a “marked man”.

The former HMP Wandsworth inmate said Brand, 51, “needed to survive” until he moves to a new prison, following his sentencing.

It comes after the disgraced actor was jailed for 10 years and six months for rape and sexual assault today.

An ex HMP Wandsworth lag, who was released last year, said Brand is now a “dead man walking” in Wandsworth.

He said: “If Brand stays in Wandsworth, he’s in real trouble – a dead man walking.

“He won’t be there permanently but needs to survive until he’s got his permanent move.

BRAND GUILTY

How long Russell Brand will serve in jail for rape and sexual assaults

behind the brand

All we know about Russell Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher, his parents & kids

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“Wandsworth is violent, corrupt, dirty and noisy. He will be so far out of his comfort zone.

“When I was there staff paid prisoners to attack other inmates and violence would break out over the smallest thing.

“Brand will be a marked man while he is there and – if he is to stay safe – needs to move quickly.”

Brand has received visits by a prison chaplain while behind bars.

The pair prayed with each other as the fiend started his years-long stretch in jail.

Terrified Brand met the minister at his cell door after he was held following his dramatic rape and sexual assault conviction on Thursday.

Brand – who was strip-searched and scanned on arrival at the violence-plagued jail – was yesterday being kept apart from other cons and assessed by officers.

We can reveal that prison bosses have carried out a Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA) on Brand – and have opted to house him on his own amid safety fears.

They have also opened up a care in custody document on former comic and TV star Brand, meaning they have to check him regularly and keep records on his mood.

Officers are understood to have blocked Brand from mixing with other cons to keep him safe from violence and extortion at the prison which has been hit by scandals and the 2023 escape of inmate Daniel Khalife.

Shamed tennis idol Boris Becker was held at the Category B nick for several weeks after he was jailed for hiding assets in 2022 – and described it as “really dirty and extremely dangerous”.

As former Hollywood star Brand took in his new surroundings, he was given an in-depth medical which saw his weight, BMI and blood pressure recorded.

Healthcare professionals also quizzed Brand – said in court to have had a ‘goal’ of bedding 5,000 women – about allergies, drug use and medication – and about his sexual history.

And he was given his visit applications, and allowed to list five people he wants to come to see him, plus 10 he wants to speak to on the phone.

Sources said his wife Laura, 39, and the couple’s three children would be allowed to visit – but that would happen when he moves to a new jail.

All visitors and callers have to undergo vetting and security checks, with each phone number he can call also assigned a PIN.

Brand was also handed a menu sheet where he can pick meals including lasagne, curries, shepherd’s pie and baguettes.

He was offered a cooked breakfast of bacon, sausages and hash browns and a Sunday roast style meal over the weekend.

Brand was placed on a “standard” jail regime which means the star – said to have a net worth of £15 million – will be given £19.80 to spend in the canteen plus be allowed a Freeview TV and DVD player plus phonecalls.

Speaking about his time in Wandsworth so far, a source said: “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 previous glamorous, Hollywood lifestyle.

“Brand has been put in a cell and is being kept away from other inmates because he is in real danger due to his offence, his wealth and who he is.

“Some of the officers and inmates will be excited to have a celebrity in there – but a lot of the cons would want to do him some damage.

“The chaplain went to see him at his cell door as Brand is not allowed to go very far.

“And apparently they chatted and prayed together after the minister asked Brand about his wellbeing.

“Brand is openly Christian and tried to be a bit of a preacher – but that puts him in danger, especially in a London jail.

“There are a lot of extremist Muslim inmates at Wandsworth.

“And he is not just in danger from them.

“He is at risk of being attacked because of his offences, and because he is famous and flamboyant which can provoke jealousy.

“Brand is also really rich, which puts him in danger of extortion and blackmail.

“So he will not be allowed to mix while he is in Wandsworth, and it will be safer for him  – and they will want to ship him out as soon as possible after he’s sentenced.

“While he is there he will be able to watch TV, make phonecalls and buy treats like cans of pop and chocolate from the canteen.

“He will find the prison food pretty awful and have to supplement it by buying stuff.

“And the officers will not be happy about having to record everything about him on the care in custody document as it makes a lot of work for them.”

Brand – found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults – was jailed for 10 years and six months at Southwark Crown Court today.

Mr Justice Bennathan said Brand was a dangerous “sexual predator” who showed “staggering arrogance” and “contempt” for women.

The judge told Brand: “About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous.

“You were clever – and in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic.

“You had also become a sexual predator.”

He added that the comic had told a “series of lies” about the women he abused.

The predator showed no emotion while being sentenced but later mouthed “I love you” and “we will be OK” to his wife Laura Gallacher when being led away to the cells.

Gallacher became visibly upset as Brand was jailed and held back tears as she left Southwark Crown Court.

A prison van thought to be containing the disgraced star was targeted by members of the public as it drove away from the court.

The bystanders started banging on the side of the vehicle, with one man shouting: “Not so funny now Russell.”

After the jury delivered their guilty verdicts, Mr Justice Bennathan told him: “You’ve been convicted of a number of offences including rape.

“The consequence of that is inevitably a significant custodial term.”

Brand was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan at his Hampstead home after they met at his stand-up show in 2009.

He also sexually assaulted a Channel 4 worker in 2009 and “sloppily” kissed a Capital Radio worker without her consent.

And the beast groped an MTV employee at a party in Soho in 2004.

His crimes had a devastating impact on his victims.

One of them, who was attacked by him at a radio station in 2005, said: “Russell Brand has managed to move on and even forget that he sexually assaulted me violently in a very public place and in front of people.”

Another of his victims said the attack on her forced her to take time off work and move back in with her parents.

She added: “I hope the court can understand the large and overarching impact this has had on me, and continues to have on me to this day.”

Brand was taken the seven miles to HMP Wandsworth after leaving court in a Serco prison van at 4.30pm on Thursday.

But he is only likely to be held there for around a week, with justice chiefs yesterday holding high-level talks on where the sexual predator should serve the rest of his time.

Prisons under consideration are Stafford, Usk in South Wales and Channings Wood, Dorset – where pop paedophile Gary Glitter, 81, is held.

Brand would be expected to serve two-thirds of his sentence under government rules but will only have time knocked off if he completes sex offender therapy.

Brand will have to finish courses for sex offenders. They include ones called ‘Building Choices’ – a cognitive-behavioural programme – and a  ‘Thinking Skills’ programme aimed at making culprits question their own behaviour.

Our source explained: “Brand will be moved fairly quickly – probably within days of sentencing – because of who he is.

“The problem they have is that prison governors won’t want him and won’t want the spotlight on their jail.

“But they will have to find a place for him and safety will be on their minds.

“They do not want another Ian Watkins situation on their hands.

“So Brand will probably be moved to a specialist sex offender jail outside London.

“It will be a lot safer for him to be mixing with other middle-aged sex offenders than gangsters and killers.

“A location like that will be more suitable for Laura and their kids to visit if they want to as well.

“And if he wants even a day knocked off his tariff he will have to show remorse and complete the courses.

“Brand’s prison life will still be incredibly grim – but being in a softer jail will work in his favour.”

Paedophile former Lostprophets singer Watkins, 48, was killed in an attack at Category A Wakefield Prison in October, 2025.

A Prison Service spokesperson said they could not comment.

Chelsea have warned staff to be careful about inadvertently revealing team news through Fantasy Premier League after Joao Pedro’s injury appeared to have been disclosed through team selections.

An email was sent to staff reminding them of the potential consequences of using inside information when playing Fantasy Premier League or other public gaming platforms, where team selection choices could reveal which players are unavailable or close to returning.

It followed leaks before the 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham, when Pedro was a surprise absentee because of what has since emerged to be a quad injury.

Several influential Fantasy Premier League content creators claimed to have seen evidence that forward Morgan Rogers, along with several members of Chelsea staff, had removed Pedro from their Fantasy Premier League teams before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, despite no club announcement having been made about his injury.

Asked about the matter by BBC Sport after the defeat, Xabi Alonso said he was unaware of the situation. He replied: “I am not into the fantasy team thing, so I didn’t know that.”

Since joining Chelsea in the summer, Alonso, 44, has generally been guarded when discussing injury issues in media conferences.

Chelsea have also previously experienced problems with leaks.

During former manager Liam Rosenior’s four-month spell in charge last season, team selections were leaked before both legs of the club’s Champions League defeat by Paris St-Germain.

It also later emerged former defender Marc Cucurella’s barber had revealed on social media that Pedro and Cole Palmer would miss a trip to Brighton last season after discussing the matter with his client.

With regard to Fantasy Premier League, no further restrictions are expected because Chelsea regard the incident as an isolated case that can be managed through greater awareness among players and staff.

There have been many further examples, claiming to suggest players from clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester and Newcastle made revealing changes to their teams, while BBC Sport has identified accounts believed by Fantasy Premier League trackers to be linked to high-profile players and figures at clubs across the division.

The highest-profile example was arguably the revelation of then Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish’s omission from the squad before a match against Leicester City in February 2021.

Then Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers later said he had been aware of rumours surrounding Grealish’s injury absence before the match, which his side won.

More than 11 million people are said to play Fantasy Premier League, which has become an increasingly prominent part of the wider football ecosystem.

Although there are strict rules prohibiting gambling, the Premier League offers no specific guidance to clubs on how, or whether, those involved in the game should participate in Fantasy Premier League.

Instead, it is generally treated as a matter for individual clubs to manage themselves.

Loyal British Airways customers should be aware that the UK’s flag carrier is making a change to its Avios loyalty points scheme that will come into force on November 24

British Airways passengers should put November 24 in their diaries, as the UK flag carrier is preparing to make a change that’ll impact repeat customers.

Avios is the loyalty scheme of more than 30 major airlines, including British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. It allows you to earn points that you can then exchange for flights, although you still need to pay taxes and fees.

Last year, BA announced a change to the scheme that left some repeat customers fuming. The price of trips booked through the scheme went up.

An off-peak return trip in economy from London to New York bought through Avios used to cost 50,000 points and £100 fee, now it costs 55,000 and £120. Similar hikes were introduced across premium economy, business, and first class.

However, now the airline has announced another change that will be a little more welcome. British Airways Holidays is updating its Avios offering. Launching on 24 November 2026, members of The British Airways Club booking a holiday package with British Airways Holidays can collect six Avios for every £1 spent on the total package price.

Avios will be calculated on the full booking value and then divided equally between all travellers on the booking. Club members will be able to collect their individual share or choose to pool their Avios through a Household Account.

BA has said that the change will make “booking with British Airways Holidays even more rewarding”. It replaces the current approach, in which all customers collect Avios on the flight element of their holiday package and the lead passenger can also collect one bonus Avios for every £1 spent on the holiday package booking.

BA has shared an example of how the new system could be better for customers. Two people heading to Crete could see each traveller collect 11,316 Avios – enough for them to secure a one-way Reward Flight to Paris each, using 10,000 Avios, plus a £2.50 fee. Previously, the lead booker could have collected 5,462 Avios and the second traveller 1,690 Avios from just the flight element of the booking.

Andrew Flintham, managing director at British Airways Holidays, said: “For many people, a holiday is the ultimate reward, so we want booking one to feel rewarding too. For Avios collectors, that relationship should be symbiotic. A holiday should not only be somewhere they can spend their Avios; it should also help them build their balance towards whatever comes next. Our aim is to create a simpler and more compelling offer for our Club members. Whether those Avios help reduce the cost of another holiday, contribute towards a future flight or make an upgrade possible, it means the value of the holiday can continue long after customers return home.”