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Daily Record
Daily Record
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Steven Rae

Charles Bronson: UK's most violent prisoner loses bid to be freed from jail

Charles Bronson, one of the most notorious criminals in the UK, has failed in his bid to be released, after nearly half a century behind bars.

Known as one of the UK's most violent offenders, Bronson has spent most of the past 48 years in prison, for a string of thefts, firearms and violent offences, including 11 hostage-takings in nine different sieges.

He has had two brief spells as a free man in that time, during which he reoffended. Victims of his violence have included governors, doctors, staff and, on one occasion, his own solicitor, reports the Mirror.

He was given a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of four years in 2000 for taking a prison teacher at HMP Hull hostage for almost two days. The Parole Board has repeatedly refused to direct his release since then.

The Parole Board said on Thursday that he lacks the "skills to manage his risk of future violence", and also denied a transfer to an open prison.

Bronson was sent a letter around 11.30am from the Parole Board, confirming he would remain in prison.

The serial offender previously claimed he now "hates violence" and claims he has been a "model prisoner" for the last 10 years. He also claimed he has "never been a danger to the public", adding, "I love the world".

He said 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".

Bronson has also previously told his ex-wife that he is confident he will get out. Bronson, who changed his surname to Salvador in 2014, was the second inmate in UK legal history to have his case heard in public after rules changed last year in a bid to remove the secrecy around the process.

The parole hearing took place earlier this month at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, where three unnamed parole judges heard evidence from Bronson, a psychologist, a prison officer and a friend.

A psychologist told the hearing that Bronson has post-traumatic stress disorder after facing some “brutal and unacceptable” treatment behind bars and that he holds “anti-authoritarian views”.

Judges also heard how Bronson, whose real name is Michael Peterson, had a "romantisiced" view of his past. The psychologist said Bronson should eventually be moved to a lower security prison with open conditions to allow him to interact with other people and poses “less of a risk” outside of jail.

Bronson's personal officer told the hearing he had "a good rapport with him" - however, none of the officials who gave evidence at the hearing said Bronson was ready to be released.

During the proceedings, Bronson had many outbursts including comparing himself to being on the Apprentice with Lord Sugar.

His friend Richard Booth said the pair, who speak on the phone four or five times per day, plan to set up a charitable foundation with proceeds raised by selling the 70-year-old’s art.

Pieces sold so far have raised around £100,000, of which a third is planned to go to the charitable foundation and the remaining two-thirds is held in a separate account but is not for profit, Mr Booth said.

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