Britain’s most notorious prisoner is set to make his ‘last bid for freedom’ 50 years after his original sentencing.
Charles Bronson, now 72-years-old, has been locked up for just over half a century for committing armed robbery in 1974.
But now, the infamous criminal is set to go before the parole board for the ninth time and final time.
Speaking to the Mirror, a friend said: ‘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 and we hope this year he is released’.
Having legally changed his named to Charles Salvador, Bronson has not spent the entirety of those 50 years in prison.
In 1987, he was released and pursued a career in bare-knuckle boxing. But he was imprisoned again just the following year after committing yet another armed robbery.
This will be Charles Bronson’s ninth attempt at applying for parole, having been unsuccessful on all previous eight occasions
Bronson is currently being detained at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes
Since that second detention, Bronson has seen his sentence extended on numerous occasions due to a string of attacks on wardens and other inmates.
It is these attacks which have earned the 72-year-old the title of Britain’s most violent inmate.
Bronson’s last parole hearing came in 2022 where he was denied his request of being moved to an open prison.
On that occasion, the parole board noted evidence of ‘improved self-control and better emotional management’, but was unable to 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 in excess of a day with evidence due to be given from psychiatrists, prison officers and victims.
Former Met detective Peter Bleksley has poured cold water on the prospect of Bronson being granted early release at the ninth time of asking though.
‘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’, he said.