A former judge has blocked the notorious inmate who is locked up for 23 hours a day from having his parole hearing aired in public, claiming his “notoriety would no doubt be increased”
Britain’s most infamous prisoner Charles Bronson has been denied a public parole hearing – over fears it would boost his “notoriety”.
The 72-year-old – locked up for 23 hours each day – said if his bid for freedom was held behind closed doors it may “cause him undue emotional stress”. Bronson was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, aged 22, and has spent all but 69 days behind bars. He claims the prison service’s decision to hold him in close supervision centres intended for the UK’s most dangerous offenders had delayed his progress. But the Justice Secretary argued Bronson’s “readiness to resort to violence continues to be evident” and claimed a public hearing may “prompt a display of violence”. Now former judge Jeremy Roberts KC has denied Bronson’s efforts for a public hearing.
In a written judgement, he said: “I believe that the notoriety which the prisoner has already achieved and which would no doubt be increased by holding this hearing in public might actually mitigate against better public understanding of the parole process. It might distract from the real issues in the case.”
During Bronson’s public parole hearing in 2023, one of the UK’s first, he said it was his “old mother, the Duchess” Eira Peterson’s dream to see him walk free. He told the panel: “She’s 95 and she’s not in the best of health. You people have got the power to let me out. That’s my mum’s last dream on this planet, to see her son outside, doing well, making a good honest living with my art. If you have a heart or any passion, give it to my mum and make an old lady’s dream come true.”
Bronson was first jailed 51 years ago and during his time inside has staged nine roof-top protests and held 11 people hostage. But he refused to apologise for any of it. He said: “Am I sorry? Maybe. Would I do it again? Definitely not.”
He conceded he deserved 35 years of the time he had served. He said: “I’ve had more porridge than Goldilocks and the three bears. I’m sick of it. I’ve had enough and I want to go home.” He said: “Compared to what I was, I’m almost an angel now.”
In 2014, Bronson decided to change his surname to Salvador, which he said meant “man of peace”. He said: “Bronson was a nasty b*****d. I wasn’t a nice person and I didn’t like him. Salvadoris a man of peace. I feel peaceful.”
But Bronson, who was dubbed “Britain’s most violent prisoner” after a string of attacks, also told the panel: “I love a rumble. What man doesn’t?” But he conceded it was becoming a “bit more embarrassing” because of his age and he “had to grow up”. He said: “There will be no more rumbles.”
Of one incident, in which the parole review was told he stripped naked and “greased up”, he said: “I took half a tub of Lurpak with me, bare-knuckle stripped off and had the rumble of my life. It was f***ing brilliant.”
In 1998, Bronson took two Iraqi aircraft hijackers and another inmate hostage at Belmarsh Prison in London, telling negotiators he would eat one of his victims unless his demands were met. He told his parole hearing: “They threatened to blow up a f***ing plane. I take them hostage and I’m the animal. They are all out now and I’m still in here. I’ve got no compassion for them.”
Asked about an incident in 2015 when he threw his faeces at a prisoner, Bronson claimed the inmate had killed four people and threatened to stab him. He also claimed the prisoner had asked him to do it so that he could claim compensation.
Speaking about taking prison teacher Phil Danielson hostage in 1999, he said: “I tied a skipping rope around his neck and took him for a walk around the landings. When the time is right for him, I would like to meet him and apologise.” He said he told another hostage: “You’ve been my best hostage, you’re the only one who hasn’t s**t himself.”
Asked about causing prison governor Adrian Wallace post traumatic stress disorder, Bronson said: “Governor Wallace was an a***hole, is an a***hole and will die an a***hole.” Bronson, who described himself as a “retired prison activist”, said: “I was a horrible person and I couldn’t stop taking hostages. I went through a phase, I couldn’t help taking hostages.
“I was battling against the system… it was my way of getting back. There’s nothing better than wrapping a governor up like a Christmas turkey.” Bronson, who is in HMP Woodhill, claimed he often put a “lovely little bet” on “Spurs or Luton” on a Saturday and won £1,500 betting last year. He told the hearing: “I’m just a normal geezer wanting to get on with my life.”
Bronson, whose real name is Michael Peterson, has developed a reputation for being Britain’s most violent prisoner. He was given seven years for the robbery but bad behaviour inside gave him a reputation as a dangerous inmate, and he wasn’t release until 1987.
Bronson then spent just 69 days as a free man before being rearrested and jailed again after robbing a jewellery shop. He was sentenced to another seven years and, bar another brief spell of freedom in 1992, has been in prison since.
During his time inside he has attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused £500,000 in damage in rooftop protests. He was given a life sentence for taking Mr Danielson hostage. His last conviction for a violent offence was in 2014 when he was tried for assault.