UK’s ‘most violent prisoner’ Charles Bronson first to ask for public parole hearing in bid to roam the streets

BRITAIN'S "most violent prisoner" Charles Bronson has launched a freedom bid - becoming the first lag to ask for a public parole hearing.

He formally asked for a public Parole Board hearing after rules were changed to remove the secrecy behind the process.

Reforms which came into force on Thursday mean the hearings could take place in public for the first time.

Bronson, one of the UK’s longest serving prisoners, now goes by the name Charles Salvador.

It comes after he released a chilling audio message from behind bars begging to be free earlier this month.

Bronson has had all bids for parole refused since he was first jailed for armed robbery in 1974.

His sentence was repeatedly increased for attacking prison staff and taking them hostage.

Speaking in a voice note sent to from HMP Woodhill near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, Bronson asked: "What I'm I in jail for?"

He added: "I bet you can't believe I'm still in, can you? It's an absolute liberty. I'm 70 years old now, 70 years old. I've never murdered anyone; I've never raped anyone.

"What am I in jail for? People don't believe it. They think I'm a serial killer."

In 1999 Bronson took a prison art teacher hostage.

He tugged his terrified victim along with a skipping rope tied around his neck for two days while wielding a homemade spear as a weapon.

Bronson was handed a life sentence - with a minimum term of three years.

Then, in 2018, Bronson was found not guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm on HMP Wakefield governor Mark Docherty.

During the trial he said: "For the first time in 44 years in prison I never intended to be violent.

"I never meant to hurt the governor."

Bronson was moved to HMP Woodhill shortly after he was let off.

Now, the prisoner is set to submit a new parole application after he won a High Court battle for the right for the hearing to be held in public.

In the voice note, Bronson added: "It's all coming out in the wash, my side of the story, and the truth is mate, it's going to shock the planet.

"And between you and me I can still do 95 press-ups in 30 seconds, so I'm still the guv'nor. Good luck, your old china Charlie."

Bronson was briefly married to Coronation Street actress Paula Williamson, 38, in a prison service on November 14, 2017.

Paula was bundled into Wakefield jail under a purple cloak after a bizarre procession through the town led by a Bronson lookalike and a woman on a mobility scooter.

Charles was handcuffed to a warder for the strictly controlled two-hour ceremony witnessed by just five guests.

But the pair divorced in 2019 after Charles sent her a raunchy catsuit to wear on her next visit prison visit - which she refused.

Tragically, Paula was found dead at her home a few months later by her new lover, lorry driver Peter Jones.

She died of multiple drug toxicity, and substances including cocaine were found in her system.

Her death was deemed non-suspicious.

SERIAL CRIMINAL

Bronson was first sentenced to seven years in jail over an armed robbery in 1974 - which was extended by nine months after he attacked a fellow prisoner with a glass jug.

He later caused £250,000 of damage when he staged a three-day protest on a rooftop.

The criminal was eventually released in 1987, where he changed his name to Charles Bronson on the advice of his bare-knuckle boxing promoter.

But it was not long before he was back in jail, after robbing a jewellery shop in 1988 and sentenced to seven more years inside.

Bronson was released early from his sentence in 1992 - but was back behind bars 53 days later for intent to commit robbery.

After holding three men hostage in his cell, the Luton lad saw another seven years added to his sentence - although this was cut to five on appeal.

Following further incidents, he was finally given a life sentence after kidnapping a prison teacher in 1999, causing destruction to the prison.

After being held at a number of prisons across the country - including the likes of Broadmoor and Belmarsh - he returned to HMP Woodhill in 2018.