Caged Charlie Bronson hopes to be home for Christmas as he bids to be Britain’s first public parole hearing, the Daily Mirror can reveal.
The 69-year-old, who has spent most of his life behind bars in the UK, claims his efforts to be released have been hit by delays lasting three years.
Bronson was first jailed for armed robbery in 1974 but convictions for violence and blackmail have kept him locked up.
Now he fears his parole hearing may not take place until December – meaning he wouldn’t walk free for another five months.
Speaking from prison, Bronson, who changed his name to Salvador behind bars, said he won’t “kick off” because it would only lead to more prison time.
And he revealed he wants to live out the rest of his days in Devon as a free man.
He said: “Every time my jam roll [parole] comes up for the last 30 odd years they start playing games and this is the biggest, cruellest, nastiest game they have ever played - ever.
“I was expecting my jam roll [parole] to be in July or August. It’s now two and a half years late.
“They have now said it's been put back again to December 12 so by the time I go up, if I go up, as it's possible they could put it back again, that will have been three years of my life I may not have had to serve.
“We've put in complaints, we have challenged it. Once the parole board says it's December 12, that's when it is. There's not a lot you can do about it.
“It could be because I'm going to have a public hearing, which I've fought for and I'm going to get.
“The reason I want a public hearing is I want the public to see what vindictive b****ds these people really are.
“They have just squeezed another six months of my life. I could go up next week.
"All the paperwork is there. It's all ready. And they have not even given a reason....there's no reason for it.
“I'm going to be 70 in December. So a 70-year-old man is going up for his jam roll when I should have had it when I was 67.
“It's an absolute disgrace. It’s a liberty. They are sucking away my life for no reason. The only reason is retribution...revenge. They don't want me to get out.
“They want me to kick off. They want Charlie f***ing Salvador to kick off, so they can wring their hands and say: “Now see why we didn't let him out”. Well it's ain't going to happen.”
Bronson was first locked up in 1974 for armed robbery and had his sentence increased several times for assaults on inmates and prison guards.
He was briefly released in the Eighties but was caught plotting another raid and was jailed again.
He went on to take two Iraqi hijackers and another inmate hostage at the high security Belmarsh Prison.
At one point during negotiations he demanded a cheese and pickle sandwich. He also reportedly threatened to eat one of his captives.
“By the time I go up, if I go up, as it’s possible they could put it back again, that will have been three years of my life I may not have had to serve.
“We’ve put in complaints, we have challenged it.
“It could be because I’m going to have a public hearing, which I’ve fought for and I’m going to get.
“I’m going to be 70 in December. So a 70-year-old man is going up for his jam roll when I should have had it when I was 67.
“It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s a liberty. They are sucking away my life for no reason. The only reason is retribution...revenge. They don’t want me to get out.
“They want me to kick off. They want Charlie f***ing Salvador to kick off,
so they can wring their hands and say: ‘Now see why we didn’t let him out’. Well it’s ain’t going to happen.”
Bronson is serving his time at HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes, and has had his sentence increased several times for assaults on inmates and prison guards.
He was briefly released in the 1980s but was caught plotting another raid and was jailed again.
He went on to take two Iraqi hijackers and another inmate hostage at high security Belmarsh Prison, south east London.
At one point during negotiations he demanded a cheese and pickle sandwich.
He also reportedly threatened to eat one of his captives.
During one rumble with prison officers he covered himself from head to foot in butter.
Those convictions led to a discretionary life sentence to be handed down to Bronson in 2000, with a minimum term of four years.
But now he says he’s turned over a new leaf as an artist.
He said: “I am 20 years over that tariff. My last nearly five years, my reports have been excellent, I’ve changed, I’ve become an artist, I have rehabilitated myself.
“I’m planning to live in Devon away from all the crime and all the villains.
“I have turned a chapter in my life, I’m more relaxed, I’m chilled out, I’m not a danger to anybody. And I still say I’m not a danger to the British public. If so, who to?
“Who have I killed? Who have I raped? Who am I a danger to outside? Nobody.
“I’m 70 years old in December. What danger am I to anybody?
“And they have still got me down as Category A, they have still got me down as Britain’s most violent man, how does that work out?”
Bronson said he now hopes to be home for Christmas.
He said: “That would be nice. They won’t be giving me anything as I’ve actually earned it.
“For once in my life I’ve fought the right way, I’ve swallowed my humble pie, wiped my mouth, I haven’t attacked anyone for years, I’m just an artist.
“I’m not a dangerous man, I’m not a terrorist, I’m not going to come out and mug people or set fire to houses. It’s still a wonderful world. And I want a bit of it.
“I love people, I don’t hate people.
“Why do I need to do another robbery? I’ve got money.. I’ll have a lot more when I get out. And that’s what they are frightened of...me becoming a success.
“If they had a brain amongst them they could use me to help people from coming to prison.
“I’d do it. I’d go round the schools and tell them stay away from crime.
Stay away from drugs. And the kids would listen to me.”
The Parole Board said applications for public hearings open on July 21.
