Could Charles Bronson ever be launched as authorized specialists have say on UK’s most violent inmate
Charles Bronson, 73, is making his ninth appeal to the Parole Board after spending 52 years in jail, but a former governor says the UK’s most violent inmate’s chances of ever walking free are fading
Bronson has earned the reputation as “Britain’s most violent prisoner”(Image: Sunday Mirror)
Britain’s most infamous prisoner Charles Bronson is caught in a “Catch-22” situation as his chances of ever walking free from jail fade, his former governor has said.
Bronson, 73, has served 52 years behind bars, mostly in solitary confinement, but will launch his ninth challenge to be released before the Parole Board on Thursday. Three years ago the board acknowledged his conduct had enhanced but concluded he wasn’t prepared for transfer to an open prison.
Despite recommendations that his behaviour should be evaluated in a less restrictive environment, he continues under Category A conditions, which are imposed on jailbirds considered the most dangerous.
John Podmore, once the governor at Belmarsh prison told Sky News he once attempted to relocate Bronson to a standard cell and worked with him to bring his violent episodes down. This was 30 years ago, and the trial lasted just a few weeks.
“I got a phone call, telling me Charlie had taken the Iraqi prisoners hostage,” he said, according to the Mirror. “He had them hog-tied and very frightened, it was horrendous; a bit of me was kind of heartbroken because our efforts had failed.”
Whilst this was all going on, Mr Podmore was forced to leave the prison and give command over as his father had just passed away unexpectedly. Bronson subsequently posted him a card offering sympathy, the only prisoner to make such a gesture.
“He wrote that he was sorry he had caused me so much trouble,” Mr Podmore said. “The Parole Board recommended last time what I was trying to do 30 years ago, but it’s a Catch-22 situation.
“He’s not being moved because of his propensity for violence, but unless he’s moved, he can’t demonstrate he has changed.” The former governor reckons Bronson’s hopes of ever gaining freedom are fading, in part due to the current treatment of the prison system.
Today the Parole Board panel will evaluate his application during a hearing to determine whether he poses no risk if released. The panel will examine written evidence from prison officers, psychiatrists, probation workers and Bronson’s legal representatives.
The panel could opt to release Bronson, suggest a transfer to an open prison, or postpone proceedings and schedule an oral hearing. He was sentenced to seven years for armed robbery in 1974 and, excluding two brief stint out of prison, has remained incarcerated due to consistent violent assaults on staff and fellow prisoners.
In 1999, he held a prison art teacher hostage, resulting in a life sentence with a minimum term of three years. His most recent conviction, for assaulting a prison governor, occurred in 2014.
Bronson was initially imprisoned in 1974 for armed robbery and during his incarceration has instigated nine rooftop protests and taken 11 individuals hostage. However, he declined to express remorse for any of his actions, stating in 2023 during his first parole board hearing: “Am I sorry? Maybe. Would I do it again? Definitely not.”
However, Bronson, who earned the title “Britain’s most violent prisoner” following numerous assaults, also informed the panel: “I love a rumble. What man doesn’t?” Yet he acknowledged it was becoming a ” bit more embarrassing” due to his age and said he “had to grow up”.
He declared: “There will be no more rumbles.” The Parole Board’s decision will be announced at a later date.
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