Russell Brand Reportedly Given Nickname at Wandsworth Prison Ahead of Sentencing

The Name Refers to the Separate Unit Where He Is Reportedly Being Held

Russell Brand has reportedly been nicknamed ‘Russell from the Block’ after being placed in a separate unit at HMP Wandsworth in London. The nickname refers to the prison’s Care and Separation Unit, which inmates and staff reportedly call ‘The Block’ or ‘The Seg’.

The 51-year-old British actor is reportedly being held apart from the general prison population while awaiting sentencing. Safety concerns have been cited as the reason for the placement. His long-term prison placement has yet to be confirmed.

Accounts of His First Nights Describe Close Monitoring

An unnamed source claimed Brand was anxious before his first night in prison and was being monitored closely. The source also described him as quiet and shaken after his arrival. Those details come from an anonymous account of his first days at Wandsworth.

A separate account described an incident in which another inmate allegedly spread human waste around a cell in the unit. The circumstances remain unclear, including whether Brand was the target. The reported nickname refers to the name of the unit where he was placed.

The Jury Returned Both Guilty and Not-Guilty Verdicts

At London’s Southwark Crown Court, a jury found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three sexual assault offenses involving four women. The offenses took place between 2004 and 2009. Jurors deliberated for two days before returning their verdicts.

The jury acquitted Brand of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Sentencing for the four offenses on which the jury found him guilty is still pending.