Charles Bronson makes his ‘last bid for freedom’ – as Britain’s most notorious prisoner, 72, fears he will ‘die in jail’ after 50 years behind bars
Britain’s most notorious prisoner will make his ‘last bid for freedom’ 50 years after his original conviction.
Charles Bronson, now 72 years old, has been in prison for more than half a century for committing an armed robbery in 1974.
But now the notorious criminal will appear before the parole board for the ninth and final time.
Speaking to the Mirror, a friend said: ‘He’s afraid of dying in prison. This could be his only chance at freedom.
‘It’s been several years since he’s been violent.
“He is not the person he used to be and we hope he will be released this year.”
After Bronson legally changed his name to Charles Salvador, he didn’t spend all of his fifty years in prison.
In 1987, he was released and pursued a career in bare-knuckle boxing. But the following year he was imprisoned again after committing another armed robbery.
This will be Charles Bronson’s ninth attempt to apply for parole, having failed all eight previous times
Bronson is currently being held at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes
Since that second detention, Bronson has seen his sentence repeatedly extended due to a series of attacks on guards and other inmates.
It is these attacks that have earned the 72-year-old the title of Britain’s most violent prisoner.
Bronson’s final parole hearing took place in 2022, where he was denied his request to be transferred to an open prison.
On that occasion, the parole board noted evidence of ‘improved self-control and better emotional management’, but could not be satisfied that ‘he had the skills to manage his risk of future violence’.
He is currently imprisoned in Milton Keynes at HMP Woodhill.
The parole hearing could last longer than a day, requiring evidence from psychiatrists, prison staff and victims.
However, former Met detective Peter Bleksley has poured cold water on the prospect of Bronson being granted parole on the ninth time he has asked for it.
“I think there will be a great fear within the parole board that Charles Bronson could be released.” “He has a terrible criminal history while behind bars,” he said.