Notorious lag Charles Bronson is set to have his prison restrictions lifted so that he can give his beloved mum a “long overdue” cuddle. The man described as Britain’s most dangerous prisoner has made a bid to become a free man but the Daily Star understands parole bigwigs are wary about an immediate release into the world.
Bronson, who also goes by the name Charles Salvador, has spent two days this week in oral hearings, setting out his case as to why he is a changed man and why he should be allowed new freedoms after decades behind bars.
Salvador, one of Britain’s longest serving and most notorious prisoners, had a full examination for his eligibility for release on November 2 and 3 after spending more than five decades in custody.
And now insiders have revealed that although he may not be set completely free, Bronson would be happy to just have some of his strict restrictions lifted so he can give his mum a hug.
A source told the Daily Star: “He is getting older now, and when you hit a certain age you realise what is important to you. Charles knows his days with his mum are limited and he really wants to have at least some of his restrictions lifted so he can spend some time with his dear old mum.
“She is one of the only people he has ever truly loved and she is also getting on now. He knows his days are numbered.” His mum, Eira Peterson, is now 96 and understood to be frail and recently too unwell to visit him for years.
Footage of Bronson singing was reportedly recorded in April 2025 and released this week which shows Bronson dedicating the classic Louis Armstrong ‘What a Wonderful World’ song to his mum.
Before singing, Bronson can be seen talking to the camera and begins by saying: “If I was speaking to me mum, this is what I’d say. Yeah. Well, hello, Duchess! How are you, girl? It’s me. It’s Charlie. Not seen you for a while. About nine years…
“We’ve had some rough tumbles over the years, but we’re still there, mum. I’m on me way. We’ll have that cup of tea and a lovely slice of apple pie, okay? So what I’m going to do for you, mum, I’m going to sing you our favourite song. Don’t forget you’re always in my heart.”
Bronson then belts out the song in footage which has spread across social media. Reports claim it was leaked to coincide with the final days of his ninth formal parole board hearing.
A prison insider continued: “He is pretty much in solitary at the moment, and he is getting on. It is hoped with age he is now less of a risk, so I think they are hoping that – even if they say no to him just being released – the terms of his prison sentence will be lessened. He will be able to have a bit more freedom, maybe go into gen pop, and then have more rights, and more ways to see his mum.
“It is thought that is the driving force behind this bid. He just wants to be able to give his mum a hug, spend some time with her before it is too late.”
And his want to push a relationship with his mum has even been backed by his own brother. Mark Peterson, the youngest brother of the infamous inmate, said: “‘I’d love him to get out and give my mum a hug before she’s gone.”
He spoke of his mother’s ‘48 years of heartache’ being separated from her son. “I really do support him getting out,” Mark said. “I’d love him to come out and give my mum a hug. She’s 93 this year and I don’t know how much longer she’s going to be around.
“She’s not in the best of health and it would be lovely for them to spend some quality time together. She’s had 48 years of heartache.”
Previously insiders revealed the true extent of how severely Bronson has been locked up. The now 73-year-old was first jailed in 1974 for armed robbery but repeated violence, taking hostages and bad behaviour behind bars mean his sentence was extended to life.
In 1974, Bronson was jailed for seven years and has since spent almost 50 years behind bars after being sentenced to a succession of other crimes while inside. Bronson is currently serving a life sentence which was imposed in February 2000 for the offence of false imprisonment.
At present he has been in solitary confinement 23 hours a day for 37 years on and off but the parole team could decide to lessen that – by either moving him to an open prison or even onto a normal wing among other prisoners to see how he gets on.
Gurdeep Singh, a solicitor acting for Bronson said: “Mr Salvador is delighted with the fact he has been progressed to a full hearing but he is under no illusions; this is just the start of the fight for his release.”