Britain’s most notorious prisoner Charles Bronson has said he “couldn’t stop taking hostages” as he launched a bid for freedom at a public parole hearing.
Bronson, now known as Charles Salvador and appearing with a shaven head, cut an imposing figure in his dark suit and familiar round-framed sunglasses as he faced the panel across a small desk flanked by his solicitor.
The 70-year-old argued that after nearly half a century in jail, most of it in solitary confinement, he is safe to be released.
Asked if he will be giving evidence, he replied in his trademark rumbling voice: “Oh yes… yes certainly.”
‘There’s nothing better than wrapping a governor up like a Christmas turkey’
Bronson, who has taken hostages on nine different occasions while in prison, said: “I was a horrible person and I couldn’t stop taking hostages.
“I went through a phase, I couldn’t help taking hostages. I was battling against the system… it was my way of getting back.
“There’s nothing better than wrapping a governor up like a Christmas turkey.”
Referring to the prison art teacher he took hostage for three days in 1999, Bronson said he told him: “You’ve been my best hostage, you’re the only one who hasn’t s*** himself.”
‘My mum’s last dream on this planet’
In a plea on behalf of his mother, now aged 95 and who he referred to as “my old duchess,” Bronson said: “You people have got the power to let me out, that’s my mum’s last dream on this planet, to see her son outside, doing well, making an honest living with my art, as you know I’m anti-crime.”
The chairman of the Parole Board panel said Bronson has spent most of the last 48 years behind bars, apart from two brief periods of freedom where he reoffended.
Dubbed one of Britain’s most violent offenders, Bronson was first sent to jail in 1968 and has held 11 hostages in nine different sieges – with victims including governors, doctors, staff and on one occasion his own solicitor.
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He was sentenced in 2000 to a discretionary life term with a minimum of four years for taking a prison teacher at HMP Hull hostage for 44 hours.
Since then the Parole Board has repeatedly refused to direct his release.
‘Bronson was a nasty b******’
In 2014 Bronson decided to change his last name to Salvador – which he said means man of peace.
“Bronson was a nasty b******,” he said. “I wasn’t a nice person and I didn’t like him. Salvador is a man of peace. I feel peaceful.”
The review heard psychologist reports that the change was inspired by the artist Salvador Dali, but Bronson denied that, saying it was “crap”.
He told the hearing he is “almost an angel now” compared to his old self and has changed his ways, adding there would be no more “rumbles” behind bars.
Describing one incident, in which the parole review heard he stripped naked and “greased up”, he said: “I took half a tub of Lurpak with me, stripped off and had the rumble of my life. It was f****** brilliant.”
‘I have had more porridge than Goldilocks and the Three Bears’
In his opening statement, Bronson said: “First of all, it’s no secret I have had more porridge than Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and I’m sick of it. I’ve had enough of it, I want to go home.”
The panel of parole judges heard there are 500 people on a mailing list who write to Bronson in jail, but he does not always reply. “Bloody hell, I can’t reply to all of them,” he interjected.
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Bronson describes himself as ‘retired prison activist’
Bronson told the parole judges he was a “retired prison activist” but deserved much of his time behind bars, adding: “Out of the 50 years I’ve been in prison, I have probably deserved a good 35 years of it… but I have been naughty. Not ‘naughty, naughty’, but naughty.”
Describing how he had ended up on prison roofs in protest in the past, he said: “I enjoyed every f****** one of them.”
He said he had slept in “cages” and “boxes”, and spent “40 years of my life in solitary”.
He added: “Don’t think I’m wearing these glasses for sinister reasons. My eyes are blown away with the light” as he discussed how being in solitary confinement made his eyes sensitive to light.
‘Hard to believe’ panel has not watched documentary, Bronson says
Bronson muttered “f****** hell” under his breath as the review was told that submissions on behalf of Justice Secretary Dominic Raab had been delayed and could not be provided in advance of the proceedings to the parole board as a result.
He also cast doubt on the panel’s assertion they have not seen a recent documentary about him, saying: “I find that hard to believe.”
After spilling a carton of juice he reassured the panel: “Don’t worry, I ain’t p***** meself.”
Betting behind bars
Bronson claimed he had been betting for much of the last 50 years while he has been behind bars and won £1,500 last year.
Prisoners are banned from gambling and could face sanctions for doing so. The application of prison rules is a matter for the governor, according to the Ministry of Justice, and such claims would be expected to be investigated.
When the hearing was told that Bronson had tried to get someone outside prison to place a bet for him, he told the panel: “We all love a bet, guv, come on.”
The hearing is taking place over three days this week. The Parole Board will make its decision on whether he should remain behind bars at a later date.
