Charles Bronson could reportedly be released from prison later this year.
Known as the UK’s most notorious prisoner, Bronson has been behind bars since 1974, after being charged for armed robbery aged just 22.
However, his initial seven-year sentence continued to increase after a number of attacks on other prisoners and guards.
Bronson was then released in 1987, but the boxer was then thrown back in jail after being found guilty of a second armed robbery.
After this, the now 72-year-old was given a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of four years after holding a prison teacher hostage for almost 48 hours in 1999.
After all of this, it looks like Bronson is looking to mount another attempt at getting freedom, after several failed attempts in previous years.
The Brit, who has been married twice and has a son, is having his case reviewed by Parole Board chiefs for the ninth time, The Mirror reports.
Charles Bronson is looking to be released from prison this year (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A friend of Bronson’s spoke to The Daily Star, saying: “He fears dying in prison. This could be his one and only chance of freedom. It has been several years now since he has been violent.
“He is not the person he was. We hope this will be the year he is released.”
The prisoner, who has an odd list of things he’d like to do if he was released, has also changed his name to Charles Salvador, though he was initially born as Michael Peterson in Luton.
Bronson has a record of attacking people within the prison, as one trial heard that he took 11 hostages in nine different sieges, with a parole hearing in 2023 denying his request to transfer to an open prison.
Despite the panel stating that there was ‘evidence of improved self-control and better emotional management’, they also detailed that they ‘could not be satisfied’ by his ability to manage risks of future violence.
The 72-year-old has been behind bars for the majority of the last 50 or so years (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Mirror further reports that he is currently held at HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes.
The Parole Board released a statement detailing that his next hearing could last a day or more, as they review evidence given by prison officers, psychiatrists and victims.
“Decisions are focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable… It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length,” they said.
Former Metropolitan Police detective Peter Bleksley shared: “I think there will be a huge fear within the Parole Board that Charles Bronson can be released. He has an appalling criminal history while behind bars.”
I can’t say I’ve ever been inside a slammer, but I can imagine most inmates spend their days dreaming of how they would seize their chance at freedom and what they would get up to in the outside world.
Charles Bronson is a bloke who knowns that feeling more than most, seen as though he has spent the best part of more than 50 years behind bars despite numerous attempts to convince the parole board he was no longer a danger to society.
He reckons he has had ‘more porridge than Goldilocks and the three bears’ throughout the time he has spent in jail and he is more than ready to become a free man – as well as being eager to treat his tastebuds to something a bit less bland.
Bronson, who is dubbed ‘Britain‘s most notorious inmate’, has been locked up in prisons and high-security psychiatric institutions for decades due to his violent past.
He was originally jailed for seven years on armed robbery charges in 1974, but got some time added to his sentence due to launching attacks on fellow prisoners and guards.
After his release in 1987, the bare-knuckle boxer was then hauled back to the cells a year later after being convicted of another armed robbery.
Bronson was then slapped with a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of four years after he held a prison teacher hostage for 44 hours in 1996.
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
He made another bid for freedom last year, while becoming one of the first prisoners to ask for a public parole hearing in recent years, but it was denied as the parole board ruled he lacks the ‘skills to manage his risk of future violence‘.
During a new interview with the Daily Mail, the now-71-year-old said he was ‘disgusted’ by the outcome but still held out hope that his next attempt, which is likely to take place next year, would be successful.
The inmate, who is currently confined to his cell for around 23 hours a day, said: “I think they will approve my release. “They have to release me. I was disgusted at my last parole. I had earned better than that.
“All my hard work in the past six years and to get nothing at all, was devastating.”
Holding onto the belief that he will one day be a free man seems to help Bronson deal with his incarceration, as he explained he longs to ‘enjoy the little things in life’ again.
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
He explained that he wants to strip off his shoes and socks to walk barefoot on grass, have a slap up meal at a greasy spoon and ‘hug a tree’ if he is ever freed.
Bronson said: “The last time [I walked barefoot on grass] was over 30 years ago. I would like to go into a greasy spoon and order the biggest fry up on the planet.
“I want to go to a wood and hug a tree. Enjoy the little things in life. Go to a fish and chip shop and order fish and chips. “Sit on a bench to eat it, whilst watching the world go by. My dreams are so simple and easy. I just want peace and quiet, and sit down and create my art.”
He’s a bit of an artiste to say the least and his works have been publicly exhibited as well as earning him multiple awards.
Bronson’s creations have raised thousands of pounds for charities including the Born for Art Foundation in recent years.
Charles Bronson is known as ‘Britain’s most notorious inmate’, and with good reason.
The 71-year-old has spent the best part of 50 years behind bars due to his violent past.
He was originally jailed for seven years on armed robbery charges in 1974, but continuously had time added to his sentence due to attacks on fellow inmates and guards.
Bronson was released from prison in 1987 but landed himself back in the slammer just a year later after being convicted of another armed robbery.
Then, in 1999, he was slapped with a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of four years after he held a prison teacher hostage for 44 hours.
The notorious criminal has applied for parole on multiple occasions during the past five decades but has been denied time and time again due to him lacking the ‘skills to manage his risk of future violence.’
With the haunting words Bronson said to one of his victims, it’s easy to understand why authorities are so reluctant to release him.
Charles Bronson was handed a discretionary life sentence in 1999 after he held a prison art teacher hostage for 44 hours. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
In 1999, the prisoner held art teacher Phil Danielson hostage for two days in Hull prison.
This came after Mr. Danielson criticised one of his illustrations in class.
Although Bronson didn’t physically harm him, Mr. Danielson was left so traumatised, he never returned to work.
A bare-chested Bronson tied a skipping rope around the teacher’s neck and held him at knifepoint with a homemade spear made out of broken beer bottle.
Then, the prisoner issued Mr. Danielson with a terrifying warning that’ll send a shiver down your spine.
The former art teacher recalled the incident in the Channel 4 documentary Bronson: Fit to be Free?
He said: “I remember him telling me: ‘Take your last breath because this knife is going in you’. I was terrified out of my mind.”
The warning Bronson issued his victim were so haunting, he never returned to work. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Following the ordeal, Mr. Danielson returned to work for Hull City Council, but later suffered a nervous breakdown.
In 2001, he won a £65,000 payout from the Home Office. At the time, he said: “The experience has left my career prospects in ruins. You assume prison managers are paid and trained to protect you. That clearly wasn’t the case.”
Just last week, Bronson put his most recent bid for freedom in jeopardy after he got into a fight with killer and fellow prisoner Robert Donaldson, reportedly hitting him with two hooks and two uppercuts.
The ‘punch-up’ is currently under investigation and could impact his parole bid in 10 months’ time.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service told The Mirror: “We do not tolerate violence in prisons and anyone who breaks the rules will be punished. It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing.”
Charles Bronson is apparently ‘living on nerves’ after a punch up in prison with ‘a murderer’, his ex-wife has claimed.
The infamous inmate’s ex-wife, Irene Dunroe, has shared an update on his life.
It’s been reported that Bronson punched convicted killer Robert Donaldson four times after he allegedly tried to attack him at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes a week ago.
Bronson was originally for seven years on armed robbery charges in 1974 and 1988, before receiving a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of four years in 2000 for holding a prison teacher for hostage for 44 hours.
The 71-year-old criminal has been in several prisons around the UK as well as being held in each of England’s three special psychiatric hospitals.
But Dunroe told the Mirror that she’s ‘gutted’ about his latest incident with Donaldson.
She first married Bronson back in 1971, three years before he was locked up. They divorced in 1976 but have evidently stayed in touch – and they have a son together.
Charles Bronson. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Dunroe says that her ex is currently ‘living on nerves, waiting for the next thing to happen’.
He’s apparently kept ‘well away’ from the murderer since their punch up.
And a source also claimed to the Mirror that it led to Bronson allegedly having his privileges being removed as authorities continue to investigate the incident.
After 50 years, Dunroe met with Bronson for the first time last year, but she says a falling out between them saw them have some space again.
She said: “I’m gutted as I’d love to see him out.
“As far as we’re concerned, we’re still living in that time he went away. I just want peace and mind for our son – his mum will be gutted about this too. I think it was in self-defence.
“He suffers with PTSD and he’s never known over the years who’s going to come and jump on him.
Irene Dunroe says she’s ‘gutted’. (HGL/GC Images)
“When I went to visit him I reached out to touch him and you would have thought I’d burnt him the way he reacted – it was very upsetting.
“He’s always kept well away from this man. Because he’s so much like he is, when this bloke bumped into him he’s had to protect himself.
“He’s living on his nerves anyway, just waiting for the next thing that’s going to happen to him.”
Dunroe believed that before this happened, he’d have a chance of being released at his next parole hearing due in March next year.
She said: “We all thought he’d get it last time. It was looking very good for March next year. This is just a big hiccup. So many things like this have happened over the years – stuff I think was done to him to make him kick off.”
A Prison Service spokesperson told LADbible: “We do not tolerate violence in prisons and anyone who breaks the rules will be punished. It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing.”
While you might be listing up your ‘ins and outs’ for 2025 or perhaps making some resolutions, there’s a rather fancier list that dropped last night (30 December).
As is tradition, as the year comes to an end, the huge list of people named in the King’s New Year Honours has been revealed.
More than 1,200 people from across the UK received honours from fields including sport, business, entertainment and politics.
And it’s not just celebrities either but those unsung heroes who make huge contributions to their local communities, charities and the likes of education and healthcare.
With the likes of Gareth Southgate and Stephen Fry on the list, the Honours are awarded by King Charles following recommendations by the prime minister or senior government ministers.
That’s Sir Southgate to you (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Us mere members of the public can also recommend people for an award.
CBE is the highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award, followed by OBE and then MBE.
The New Year Honours list has seen Southgate knighted for services to association football after leading the Three Lions to back-to-back Euros finals. His upgrade to Sir comes after his resignation from the manager position.
Fry has also been knighted in recognition for his services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity.
The Tracey Beaker series creator Jacqueline Wilson has been made a Dame Grand Cross (GBE) for services to literature, The Great Gatsby actor Carey Mulligan is awarded a CBE, as is TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh.
Actor Eddie Marsan is awarded an OBE while musician Myleene Klass is to become MBE for her work on women’s health and miscarriage awareness.
Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire is also to be appointed a CBE for services to drama.
Other actors honoured include Anne Reid, Anne-Marie Duff, Kevin Whately and Dr Who star Tom Baker as well as BBC Radio 6 host Steve Lamacq honoured.
The star becomes a CBE (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
After the Olympics over the summer, there’s also plenty of Team GB athletes receiving honours.
Gold medallist and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Keely Hodgkinson becomes MBE at just 22 years old.
Two-time Olympic champion Tom Pidcock, 25, is made an OBE, having won gold in mountain biking, while Paralympian Hannah Cockroft becomes a CBE after coming first in the T34 100m and 800m in Paris.
Other gold medallists being honoured include swimmer Duncan Scott (OBE), sailor Ellie Aldridge (MBE) and rowers Lola Anderson, Hannah Scott, Lauren Henry and Georgie Brayshaw (all MBE).
Legend of the grid walk and former F1 driver Martin Brundle is made an OBE and former Scotland and Liverpool footballer Alan Hansen is also made an MBE.
Former Everton, Manchester United and West Ham boss David Moyes is also made an OBE along with Helen Glover, one of the country’s greatest-ever rowers.
Plus, former sub-postmasters and Horizon IT scandal victims Lee Castleton, Jo Hamilton, Christopher Head and Seema Misra are made OBEs for services to justice.
