- Published
Russell Brand will face "hell on earth" inside HMP Wandsworth, a former inmate at the London prison has said.
asserted
inmate → publish → prison
Brand, 51, was convicted a week ago of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault and was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and six months in prison.
asserted
Brand → convict → prison
He is currently being held at the South London jail, which is one of England's largest Victorian-era prisons.
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which → hold → prisons
Chris Atkins, who served eight months at HMP Wandsworth for tax fraud, described the prison as "hell on earth".
asserted
who → serve → earth
He continued: "The first month is hands-down the worst.
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month → continue → ?
It was colossal for me and it's going to be 10 times worse for him because of the nature of his offences and the height from which he's fallen.
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he → go → which
He has to come to terms with it and the pure physical shock of suddenly being trapped in a dungeon for weeks on end with nobody to talk to most of the time is ghastly."
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shock → have → time
A source close to the disgraced comedian said he was doing "remarkably well considering the circumstances" and that he had been moved from isolation to a main wing in the prison.
asserted
he → disgrace → prison
A member of staff at Wandsworth said there was "much excitement" among the inmates about Brand's arrival.
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member → say → arrival
"Prisons are boring and Russell Brand being in their space has given them some fun - they've been slamming on cell doors and shouting out his name.
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they → give → name
He is a rapist, so there's also been some anger about what he's done.
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he → be → what
"We're very aware of that feeling," they said.
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they → say → feeling
It would usually have a bed, a basin and a toilet.
asserted
It → have → bed
He may have a television and kettle depending on where in the prison he is housed.
uncertain
he → have → prison
On arrival, Brand's possessions will have been confiscated.
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possessions → confiscate → arrival
That will include his mobile phone, clothing, and any other valuables.
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That → include → phone
He will have been issued with a grey prison tracksuit - a uniform that has been described by some of those who've been inside as "itchy" and "often the wrong size".
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who → issue → those
The former media personality and comedian will have been given a night pack.
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personality → give → pack
It contains items such as biscuits, teabags, a small bag of cereal, some sugar and a carton of milk.
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It → contain → milk
According to the charity, Prison Reform Trust, this is to help inmates until they can buy goods from the prison shop.
uncertain
they → accord → shop
Brand, who has positioned himself as a Christian influencer, would be able to register for the weekly Sunday service in the prison chapel, inmates said.
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inmates → position → chapel
"Many sign up just to get out of their cell," one added.
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one → sign → cell
They said Brand could probably get regular time with the prison chaplain, if he wanted.
uncertain
he → say → chaplain
Inmates receive money through prison work or from their family.
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Inmates → receive → family
But several former prisoners have told the BBC there are a limited number of jobs in places like workshops, laundry rooms and libraries.
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prisoners → tell → workshops
They say it is much harder for sex offenders to get work because their conviction means they are more at risk of assault from mixing with other inmates.
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they → say → inmates
Staff at other prisons say Brand's fame and the offences he has been convicted of could make him a target among other inmates.
uncertain
him → say → inmates
Sex offenders are often among those most at risk of being attacked.
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offenders → attack → risk
One prison governor said: "When a trial gets plenty of publicity it highlights the crimes the offender has committed.
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offender → say → crimes
"This in turn makes him vulnerable to the inmates own 'justice' system of arbitrary beatings and assaults, especially where sex crimes are involved."
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crimes → make → beatings
The prison paperwork is also said to be a huge challenge for newcomers.
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paperwork → say → newcomers
Getting permission to make phone calls and filling out visitor requests can take a long time and have to go through the system to be signed off.
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Getting → get → system
Atkins said: "He won't have anyone set up on his visitor account - visitors need a series of checks.
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visitors → say → checks
Phone numbers need to be approved.
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numbers → need → ?
These checks are not quick and you need to know how to make these applications.
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you → need → applications
"There is often nobody there to tell you how this all works so you have to work it out."
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you → be → it
He said it took five weeks to see his young son.
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it → say → son
It's just days since Brand was sentenced to more than a decade in prison.
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Brand → sentence → prison
At this stage nobody knows what the future holds for him.
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future → know → him
In time he may be transferred to a different jail with a less harsh regime and more modern facilities.
uncertain
he → transfer → regime
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
