Russell Brand Denies Guilt in First Message from Prison

Gallacher delivered the message during the November 15 episode of “Sunday Service With the Brands.” Reading from a notebook, she said Brand had asked her to thank supporters for standing by him. He also wrote about his Christian faith and how it was helping him cope with imprisonment.

“As you know, I am not guilty for the offences I have been jailed for, so something strange is happening,” Brand said in the message. He described HMP Littlehey, a Category C prison in Cambridgeshire, as the “biggest sex offenders’ prison in Europe,” and praised its staff as “strong,” “kind,” and “dedicated.”

Brand also expressed sympathy for other prisoners, saying that those who had committed offences were people “that Christ died to save,” and urging them to love, pray for and forgive one another. Reports cited in the source say he has been kept apart from other inmates since arriving.

Gallacher said she intended to continue the religious programme, though sitting without her husband and “companion” would take getting used to. Brand was reportedly transferred from HMP Wandsworth to Littlehey on November 13, amid concerns about his safety. He was reportedly placed in a single-occupancy cell and had not yet interacted with other prisoners.

Retired prison governor Vanessa Frake criticised the transfer, questioning why Brand had been moved to a Category C facility so soon after receiving a lengthy sentence. He was sentenced to 10 and a half years and will serve two-thirds of that term before release on licence. He will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.