Charles Bronson says he has ‘as much chance of a chocolate tea pot surviving a second brew’ as he has of tasting freedom with his parole due to be considered again
Notorious criminal Charles Bronson has vowed not to attend his next parole hearing – saying he has no hope of being released. In a recorded call to a pal Bronson – who is now named Charlie Salvador – said he has “as much chance of a chocolate tea pot surviving a second brew” as he has of tasting freedom.
Bronson, 73, who has spent almost 50 years behind bars, is currently locked up at Long Lartin high security prison in Evesham, Worcs. He was initially jailed for armed robbery in 1974 and has seen his sentence extended repeatedly due to further violent incidents. Last month the judicial Parole Board said Bronson’s next hearing will be in private.
In the three minute 31 second clip made last week Bronson says: “This is my legal statement over my parole. So what made me come to the decision that I will not be attending my next parole board, it’s simple.
“I’ve as much chance of a chocolate tea pot surviving a second brew. I’m a man that don’t do false hope. I prefer to have no-hope than being lied to. It’s all been one big lie.”
He said the “powers that be” have done all they can to bury him, adding: “They deny me progression, they keep me isolated, they can’t even sort out a date for my parole date. By law I am entitled to a parole every two years. It’s now coming up to three years. They have denied me a public hearing.”
His statement continues: ‘It’s simple, they’re afraid of the public, media hearing the true facts, so they keep it closed. Just who is the criminal here, what are they afraid of. For the last 14 months, I have been held in solitary confinement at Long Lartin maximum secure punishment block for no reason but vindictiveness. Although my behaviour is good and all my reports are positive, the system don’t want me to progress.”
He claimed he is still being punished for his behaviour in the past: “Why? It’s obvious why, for my activist years, I am being punished for what I have done decades ago. I am still considered a danger man, I am still Category A, they don’t want me to ever get out. I am 73 now, I’ll be nearly 76 on the next parole, then 78 then 80 on the next.”
Bronson says he is now worn out by the system: “I’m tired, hopeless, worn out, dreamless and lost. Apart from my art, I have nothing, so I have decided to live my life day to day, without any more bulls**t.
“It’s just how it’s ended up, I don’t feel safe, I actually feel angry, disillusioned, soulless, I feel violated, abused and denied humanity. My half a century caged up, I’ve spent well over 40 years of that in total solitary. And it’s not enough for the powers that be, they want more.”
Bronson’s last parole review in 2023 was his eighth. When the bid was rejected he blasted out “Please Release me” by Englebery Humperdinck.
He said his solicitor, Dean Kingham and his power of attorney, Richie Booth, will both attend the next parole board in his place. He said they will tell the hearing “Charlie Salvadore is unfairly treated. He is sick of the bulls**t and refuses to take part in this farce anymore”.
In the recording he says his team will tell them he will continue doing his paintings for charities, before adding “all you lot do is keep him in a big black hole with no hope”.
In March we told how Bronson rang into a pub’s karaoke night and blasted out Frank Sinatra’s My Way. Over recent years he has become an artist whose works have sold to raise thousands for charities including the Born for Art Foundation.
He was moved to Long Lartin in May last year from HMP Woodhill following a bust-up with murderer Robert Donaldson. Bronson reportedly fought back after being attacked.