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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Abigail O'Leary

Charles Bronson says he's a 'man of peace who hates violence' and 'no danger to public'

Charles Bronson has claimed he now "hates violence" and says he has been a "model prisoner" for the last decade.

Dubbed Britain's most notorious inmate, Bronson also claimed he has "never been a danger to the public", adding, "I love the world".

His words come a day before learning whether he has persuaded a parole board to free him.

However Bronson, 70, says he not hopeful at being let out, adding in a voice note to Sky News: "I want to go home, I'm an artist born again.

"I hate violence, I despise it and that's all I've done for the last 10 years, sit in my cell, a model prisoner, polite, respectful but they still won't let me out".

He accused the prison authorities of "drumming it into the public that I'm a danger", adding, "Who am I dangerous to outside?".

Bronson was first jailed in 1974 for armed robbery and has spent most of his adult life behind bars, going on to attack a fellow prisoner with a glass jug in 1975, and hold a prison librarian hostage while demanding an inflatable doll in 1994.

Dubbed Britain's most notorious inmate, Bronson also claimed he has "never been a danger to the public", adding, "I love the world". (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The parole panel is expected to reject his appeal for release along with his secondary request for a transfer to an open prison (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Four years later, he took three inmates hostage at Belmarsh Prison in London.

The following year, he took a prison education worker hostage for 44 hours at HMP Hull and was sentenced to a discretionary life term, with a minimum of four years.

The parole panel is expected to reject his appeal for release along with his secondary request for a transfer to an open prison.

Last month, a prison psychologist said although Bronson posed a moderate risk of violence in jail, it would increase to high risk if free.

Bronson, who has officially changed his name to Charles Salvador, said he is also hoping to collaborate with a rapper named Ice-T-21 in an anti-knife campaign, adding: "I'm hoping to record a song with him, make some poetry, I want him to get on stage with me.

Britain's most dangerous and disruptive prisoner Charles Bronson (PA)

"He is someone who has been involved in many violent incidents, but has turned his life around. I think it would work because a lot of people would listen to him because of who he is."

Earlier this month, Bronson's ex-wife claimed wants to run the London marathon in a jail uniform while handcuffed to a guard if he is released.

Irene Dunroe said she has spoken to him most nights since his previous public parole hearing began.

And she revealed he is confident he will be freed after almost 50 years in jail.

Bronson told her his friends have organised a Rolls-Royce to collect him if he leaves HMP Woodhill, Bucks, and take him to a string of bashes in his honour.

Earlier this month, Bronson's ex-wife claimed wants to run the London marathon in a jail uniform while handcuffed to a guard if he is released (Sunday Mirror)

Irene, 70, who calls Bronson by his birth name Mick Peterson, said: “He called after the hearings and he told me he’s very, very positive. Mick desperately wants to get out of prison.

“He can only ring for 10 minutes and the phone gets cut off.

“He’s told me that his friends are organising freedom parties for him to welcome him back home and he wants me to sit next to him at them.

“Someone is even baking a cake and icing it all specially for him.

“My view very strongly is let him be free.”

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