Russell Brand has been moved to a 'cushy jail' with yoga and choir sessions just days into his 10-and-a-half-year sentence

Convicted rapist Russell Brand has been moved to a 'cushy' prison that offers yoga and choir sessions just days into his 10-and-a-half-year sentence. 

The disgraced comedian was transferred on Friday to Category C prison HMP Littlehey near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

The facility houses only male sex offenders and offers activities including yoga, choir and origami classes.

There is also an astroturf pitch where he can play football, two gyms, sports halls, and indoor bowls.  

The move comes after Brand was sentenced on Monday at Southwark Crown Court to ten-and-a-half years in prison for rape and three counts of sexual assault. 

The 51-year-old was initially taken to the notorious Category B HMP Wandsworth, South West London, where he was held in solitary confinement. 

It is understood authorities considered moving Brand to HMP Wakefield, known as 'Monster Mansion', where both Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins and child killer Kyle Bevan were murdered by fellow inmates last year.

But the West Yorkshire jail is said to have been deemed too dangerous for the comedian, who is also facing fresh allegations of sexual offences.

The transfer comes as the Mail on Sunday can reveal Brand was dubbed a 'fake and a fraud' by a fellow Christian prisoner assigned to help him settle into jail.  

British comedian, actor, podcaster, and media personality, Russell Brand arrives at Southwark Crown Court on October 14, 2026 in London, England

The disgraced comedian is said to have been transferred in a secret operation on Friday to Category C prison HMP Littlehey near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

Brand is being held in a single-person cell on E Wing in HMP Littlehey and has not interacted with his fellow inmates, according to The Sun on Sunday. 

A source told the newspaper that Brand asked for extra blankets on his first night and has been placed in his own cell and received special treatment, with extra officers assigned to look after him.

'Brand looked like he was s****ing himself as he was led to his cell,' the source said.

Retired prison governor Vanessa Frake described being 'flabbergasted' by the news, given he was given a 'substantial sentence' with possibly more convictions 'in the pipeline'.

Ms Frake said Brand's public profile and nature of the convictions, alongside a vulnerability to attacks, would have been considered in his risk assessment. 

'But I am surprised they have downgraded him to a Category C already,' she added. 'I'd have thought Category B would have been more appropriate.'

Ex-Met Police detective Mick Neville said the Prison Service had clearly decided 'that putting him into Monster Mansion would be a real risk to him and soak up massive resources to keep him safe'.

It comes as Brand was accused by a fellow inmate of faking his newfound Christian faith and reportedly launched a secret plan to communicate with supporters via his X account from prison. 

The Christian 'listener', who held prayer sessions with the convicted rapist before and after his sentencing last week, has cast doubt on Brand's religious beliefs, saying he does not genuinely think he has found God.

Brand prays with wife Laura Gallacher on a YouTube broadcast on April 26, 2026

Instead he believes that the former atheist and one-time Buddhist is hiding behind Christianity to cover up his sordid sex crimes and win support for an appeal.

And he is said to be infuriated that the 51-year-old, who was frequently seen clutching a Bible during his trial, is unrepentant and wandering around 'trying to preach to anyone who will listen to his ramblings'.

We speak to the detective who brought down Russell Brand

Hi, I'm Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk.

Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults - and our reporters Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull were in court every day to witness it all. They sat down with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson who revealed why the women who accused him in the infamous documentary were not involved in his rape trial. 

Subscribe to The Crime Desk to listen to the podcast. 

The listener, who is regularly assigned to help new prisoners settle in on the induction wing of Wandsworth Prison, had initially sat and prayed with Brand, who is said to 'have latched on to him'.

But the experienced prisoner, who is said to be 'nobody's fool', soon started to suspect Brand's faith was not genuine.

He told friends he had challenged the disgraced comedian saying: 'It's an insult to our religion and it's terrible he's used Christ as a cover-up for his sins.'

He has also said Brand has been claiming he has been 'royally stitched up by the Establishment and the truth will prevail', as well as telling everyone he will appeal against his conviction for rape and sexual assault.

'Brand is full of s**t,' he said. 'He deserves no sympathy.' Meanwhile, Brand – who is facing a raft of new allegations – has launched a 'secret' plan to communicate with the outside world via his X social media account.

He is apparently plotting to smuggle messages out of jail by abusing an official government endorsed communications system which helps prisoners stay in touch with family and friends.

A source told The Mail on Sunday he is planning to use the 'eMates Email a Prisoner' service to send messages to his team via other prisoners. The team will then post on his behalf to his 10.1 million X followers.

It is forbidden for prisoners themselves to access social media accounts such as X.

The source said Brand thinks he can fool the authorities by using 'his own email address for mundane chats' and 'he's going to pay a prisoner to use their address for other outgoing messages'.

'He is hoping this will blindside the prison staff,' they added.

Read more

• Russell Brand faces fresh police probe after at least EIGHT women accuse him of sexual abuse and predatory behaviour
• Noel Fielding says he is 'horrified and deeply disturbed' by Russell Brand's rape conviction and was 'completely unaware' of his crimes 
• Moment Russell Brand jokes with Jonathan Ross about how being in jail cells is 'tiresome and lonely' - as he makes Lindsay Lohan visibly uncomfortable on chat show

• How did Russell Brand become a predator? What comes next? Get exclusive insight from The Crime Desk as we talk to police, psychologists, lawyers and more. Sign-up by clicking here.