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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Paul Speed

'Charles Bronson SHOULD be released from jail - he's done his time' - Mirror readers have their say

Many Mirror readers think Britain's most violent prisoner Charles Bronson SHOULD be released from jail, with plenty agreeing he's done his time and deserves a chance to prove himself.

In our poll, 1,864 of you wanted to see him freed, with 748 preferring him to stay behind bars.

After being locked up for 48 years, the Parole Board will officially decide his fate later this month.

Bronson's ex-wife, Irene Dunroe, has revealed her former husband is confident he will be released on parole.

The jailbird - now 70 - was banged up for seven years in 1974 after being convicted of armed robbery, and was eventually given a life sentence for kidnapping prison teacher Phil Danielson in 1999.

But after spending most of his adult life behind bars, he told his parole hearing last week week he is now a "born again artist" and "almost an angel".

The notorious Bronson - who changed his name to Charles Salvador in 2014 - has a prison career littered with rooftop protests, multiple hostage takings and violence against prison officers and other inmates, including attacking a fellow prisoner with a glass jug in 1975.

His bid for freedom has become highly divisive, with some arguing the criminal has done his time, while others have voiced concern over his violent history.

If the Parole Board considers the risks of him being a danger to others are low enough, he could be let out on a life licence.

This means he would be recalled to prison if he breaks the terms of his parole.

Our story Should Charles Bronson be released from jail? received a lot of comments, here's a selection of just some of them:

'He's a gentleman and he's been treated inhumanely throughout his life'

Billy310: "Yes he should! Murderers get out aft 12.5 years, some go to commit more offences. "Considering the time he has spent inside, albeit for his unruley behaviour, he has done his time, give the 70 year old a break.

"He's not likely to be robbing banks. Been institutionalised for so long. he'll be in a halfway house. Even Reggie Kray was released. The world has changed."

Eltankerino: "He has served his time, let him be free. He will be tagged, and if this old man does any crime at all he will be locked back up within 24 Hrs.

"They let worse offenders out much sooner than this guy."

Jen Bronson: "He should be released without a doubt, he's a gentleman and he's been treated inhumanely throughout his life in all the jails and Broadmoor. He raises money for knife crime and encourages young people to put the knife down and pick up a paintbrush."

Debra Edwards: "This man has spent years in jail and it's time he was released to live out the rest of his life surrounded by his family and friends!LET HIM OUT!"

THFC4Tim: "Give him a chance let him concentrate on his talent as a artist."

Ukpunkcfc: "No doubt poor Charlie would have trouble adapting to life outside prison after so long caged inside it, much of it in solitary. How will we ever know if we don't try though? Think about it, he has done way more than three life sentences so far - and for what? Come on, give the guy a break!"

'No chance should he be let out, he's as violent as they come'

BertieDuggar: "Make him repay the taxpayer for the 'millions of pounds worth' of damage he's done to prisons, THEN consider him for release. But definitely not before - that'd keep him occupied with his little pencils and brushes for a few more years at least."

Sweet caroline: "I think (some people) have forgotten how violent he has been in the past. They must have felt the need to keep him in prison in solitary confinement for some reason . He should be in an open prison and see how he gets on Just to release him is madness."

Abundance1: "No chance should he be let out, he's as violent as they come.

"Once released you'd never find him again, he's got too many messed up fans. A recipe for huge violent disaster."

Journalismway: "Why risk it? He is not ready for current society. If he is to be released, it needs to be weekends only for quite some time.

"Let him be monitored on weekends, leave, and then see where it goes."

What do YOU think to the poll results? Do you agree? Let us know your views in the comments.

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