Charles Bronson, one of the UK’s most notorious prisoners, remains incarcerated as of March 2023.
With over 45 years in prison, he is one of the longest-serving inmates in the country.
Despite several parole hearings, Bronson’s release has been repeatedly denied due to concerns about his violent tendencies and potential risk to society.
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Charles Bronson: Who Is This Notorious Prisoner?
Charles Bronson, born Michael Gordon Peterson in 1952, is one of Britain’s most infamous prisoners.1
He gained notoriety for his violent behavior, especially towards prison staff, and has spent almost five decades behind bars.
Bronson grew up in Luton and quickly became involved in gang fights during his youth.
He was first imprisoned in 1974 for armed robbery, which was followed by a string of violent offenses that led to his sentence being repeatedly increased.
Bronson’s violent behavior continued inside prison walls, with numerous attacks on staff and taking them hostage. Despite his offenses, he has maintained that he is a “nice guy” but sometimes loses control.
Throughout his life, Bronson has changed his name several times. In 1987, during a brief period of freedom, he changed his name to Charles Bronson and used it to launch an illegal bare-knuckle fighting career. He returned to prison the following year but kept his new name.
In 2001, Bronson converted to Islam and changed his name to Charles Ali Ahmed after marrying a woman who had written to him during his time behind bars.
In 2014, he legally changed his name to Charles Salvador as a tribute to the artist Salvador Dali.
Bronson has been married three times, with his first marriage taking place in 1971 before his first arrest. He has continued to have relationships while in prison, but they have often been turbulent and short-lived.
Charles Bronson: Where Is He Now?
Bronson’s life and crimes have captured the public’s fascination for decades.2
Known for his reputation as a violent and unpredictable inmate, he has cemented his place in UK criminal history. Born Michael Peterson in 1952, he changed his name to Charles Bronson in 1987 as a tribute to the famous Hollywood actor.
Bronson’s criminal record is extensive, with over 50 convictions for a range of offenses, including robbery, wounding, and threatening behavior.
His violent behavior and erratic conduct have led to numerous incidents in prison, resulting in extended periods of solitary confinement.
Despite these issues, Bronson has also been known for his art and writing, with several books published under his name. He has also been the subject of numerous documentaries and media reports, adding to his notoriety.
While Bronson has spent much of his life behind bars, there is still much uncertainty surrounding his future.
Some advocates argue that his extended incarceration is excessive and that he has been denied opportunities for rehabilitation. Others maintain that he remains a danger to society and that his release would be irresponsible.
In recent years, Bronson has made several appeals for parole, with some reports indicating that he has made progress in addressing his behavior and seeking treatment.
However, his release remains highly unlikely in the near future, given the concerns about his history of violence and potential risk.
Charles Bronson: Infamous Incidents
Bronson’s notoriety stems from several high-profile incidents. In 1975, he attacked a fellow prisoner with a glass jug, leaving him with scars that required 17 stitches.3
This incident marked the beginning of his reputation as a violent prisoner.
Another incident occurred in 1985, when he carried out a three-day protest on a prison rooftop. He demanded a helicopter, a cup of tea, and an inflatable doll as ransom.
His protest ended after the authorities promised to give him a cheese sandwich.
In 1994, Bronson held a prison librarian hostage and demanded a cup of tea, an inflatable doll, and a helicopter. His behavior has led to several other hostage situations, and he has spent much of his time behind bars in solitary confinement.
Since being locked up, Bronson has been moved 120 times and has spent time in psychiatric institutions, including Broadmoor Hospital. He has written several books about his prison experiences, including his fitness regime, which has always been important to him.
Bronson is also an accomplished painter, and his artwork has sold for thousands of pounds. In 2014, a sale of 200 of his pieces raised over £30,000 at auction.
His work often depicts prison life, and the Charles Salvador Art Foundation was founded in 2014 to promote his artwork and help those in positions even less fortunate than his own to participate in art.
Despite his reputation for violence, Bronson has always maintained that he is not an evil person. He has been quoted as saying: “I’m a nice guy, but sometimes I lose all my senses and become nasty. That doesn’t make me evil, just confused.”
In conclusion, Charles Bronson is a notorious UK prisoner known for his violent behavior and high-profile incidents.
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Charles Bronson: Parole Hearing
Charles Bronson’s parole hearing is scheduled to take place on Monday 6 March and Wednesday 8 March, as confirmed by the Parole Board.
The notorious prisoner, who has been incarcerated for over four decades, will be evaluated by the Board to determine whether he is suitable for release on parole.
The Parole Board’s decision to hold the hearing in public is significant, as it marks a departure from the previous practice of keeping the proceedings confidential.
In a statement released last year, Parole Board chairwoman Caroline Corby explained that she had granted the request for a public hearing as she believed it was in the interest of justice.
In an interview with the Metro in 2022, Bronson spoke about his decision to request a public hearing, stating that he had nothing to hide and that he believed the current system was “vindictive” and lacked transparency.
He went on to express his hope that the hearing would shed light on the truth about his case and help to dispel some of the myths that had been perpetuated about him over the years.
Given the high-profile nature of Charles Bronson’s case, it is likely that the hearing will be closely watched by the media and the public.
The outcome of the hearing remains uncertain, and it is important to remember that the Parole Board’s decision will be based solely on Bronson’s individual circumstances and not on any outside factors such as media pressure or public opinion.
However, the fact that the hearing will be held in public represents a significant step forward in terms of transparency and accountability, and could have implications for future parole cases.
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Charles Bronson: Film On His Life
The film Bronson, which was released in Britain on March 13, 2009, is a biopic that only loosely follows Charles Manson’s life.4
Tom Hardy plays the title character, while Nicolas Winding Refn is in charge of the direction of the film. At the premiere, a recording of Bronson’s voice was played without any previous permission granted by officers at HM Prison Service. These officers then requested for an investigation into how the tape had been made. This led to the controversy that occurred at the premiere.
Charles Bronson: Children
- Michael Jonathan Peterson, a man who remains largely enigmatic, is the sole identified offspring of Charles Bronson, widely regarded as the most violent detainee in the United Kingdom.
- Peterson’s nomenclature derives from his father’s birth name, Michael Peterson, which was later replaced with the moniker Charles Bronson.
- Bronson and Irene Dunroe, Peterson’s parents, were joined in holy matrimony in 1972, the same year Michael was brought into the world.
- At the time, Bronson was employed as an industrial painter, a vocation he held before his notoriety as a convict.
- The Sunday Mirror reported that Michael’s mother, Irene’s second spouse, Brian, treated him as if he were his own in 2001. However, Michael has never publicized his relationship with his father.
- Charles Bronson’s first wife was Irene, whom he married when they were both nineteen years old. In contrast to Bronson’s second and third spouses, Irene was with the offender when he went by the name Michael Peterson.
- Despite this, their marriage came to an end in 1977 after Bronson was sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery.
- Irene, who still refers to her ex-husband as “Mick,” recounted the tumultuous nature of their relationship to the Sunday Mirror in 2001. She remembered the time when Bronson prohibited her from wearing makeup, beads, or any item that could enhance her appearance.
- Irene also recounted how Bronson shredded her halter-neck dress into tiny pieces.
- She was twenty years old at the time, but Bronson desired her to dress as if she were a middle-aged woman. Whenever they went out, if another man glanced in her direction, Bronson would immediately take her home.
- Bronson only has one child, Michael, but in 2018, George Bamby appeared on This Morning, claiming to be the infamous criminal’s son. He disclosed that a DNA test confirmed a 99.8 percent match to Bronson.
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