Who is Charles Bronson and when will the prisoner be released?
CHARLES Bronson was denied parole by a board on March 30, 2023, meaning he will remain incarcerated.
Here's all you need to know about his life and the board's reasoning behind the decision.
Who is Charles Bronson?
Charles Bronson was born on December 6, 1952, with the Luton local quickly turning to gang fights in his youth.
He was first imprisoned in 1974.
Armed robber Bronson has seen his sentence repeatedly increased for attacking prison staff and taking them hostage.
Writing in his 2000 book Bronson, he said: "I'm a nice guy, but sometimes I lose all my senses and become nasty.
"That doesn't make me evil, just confused".
Bronson has changed his name a number of times, with his different titles defining certain periods in his life.
Born Michael Gordon Peterson, he changed his name to Charles Bronson during a short stint of freedom in 1987.
He turned to bareknuckle boxing, where his promoter gave him the name Charles Bronson, after the Hollywood actor.
However, he returned to prison in 1988.
The criminal briefly converted to Islam in 2001 and became known as Charles Ali Ahmed after marrying Fatema Saira Rehman - a woman who had started to write to him during his time behind bars.
He was the subject of the 2008 film Bronson starring Tom Hardy, which detailed his life and time in jail.
Hardy spoke to Bronson over the phone in order to prepare for the role.
In August 2014, Charles announced he was legally changing his name to Charles Salvador - a tribute to the artist Salvador Dali.
He has married three times - his first marriage was in 1971 before his first arrest.
Why is he in prison?
Bronson was first sentenced to seven years in jail after being convicted of armed robbery in 1974 - which was extended by nine months after he attacked a fellow prisoner with a glass jug.
He later attempted to strangle Gordon Robinson while at Broadmoor, before causing £250,000 worth of damage when he staged a three-day protest on a rooftop.
The serial criminal was eventually released in 1987 - it was then 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 prison teacher Phil Danielson in 1999, causing destruction to the prison.
After being held at a number of prisons across the country - including Belmarsh - he returned to HM Prison Woodhill in 2018, where Bronson is still incarcerated.
What happened at Charles Bronson's parole hearing?
The parole board confirmed that Bronson's public hearing would take place over three days, the week commencing March 6, 2023, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
The Parole Board's duty will be to decide whether Bronson presents a danger to others.
If the risks are deemed low, there is a possibility he could be released on a life licence after almost 50 years behind bars.
He has been turned down for parole repeatedly in the past due to being deemed a threat to the public.
After speaking out for the first time in decades, Bronson questioned why he is still in prison after all these years saying "I've never killed anybody".
Bronson changed his name to Charles Salvador and told the court hearing: "Bronson was a nasty b******.
“I wasn’t a nice person and I didn’t like him. Salvador is a man of peace. I feel peaceful.
"Give me a chance, a break, to prove to you people and the prison service and the home office and the police that I’m just a normal geezer wanting to get on with his life.
“I want to get out of prison and turn my life around.
"I am anti-crime, I am anti-violent, I just want to go out and do my art."
An independent psychologist employed by his legal team revealed on March 8, 2023, that he was showing symptoms of PTSD and would need practical support in everyday life if released.
She also revealed that Bronson had never used a cash machine, as he has been behind bars for so long.
A parole board denied Charles Bronson freedom on March 30, 2023.
The board concluded that Bronson lacked the "skills to manage his risk of future violence."
He was also denied a move to an open prison.
What has Charles Bronson said about his parole?
Ahead of his parole hearing Bronson said he could "taste freedom".
In part one of the Bronson: Fit To Be free? documentary, he can be seen calling his son George.
During the call, Bronson says: ''I’ve got a horrible, violent, nasty past, but I've never killed anybody and I’ve never hurt a woman.
"I’m focused, I’m settled, I can actually smell and taste freedom like I’ve never, ever done in my life.
“I’m now anti-crime and anti-violence. So why the f*** am I still in prison?”
He has claimed that he is now a peaceful man and now wants to be able to concentrate on his art.
Is Charles Bronson's art for sale?
Bronson turned to art after spending decades behind bars, even changing his name to Charles Salvador and starting an art foundation under that name.
The fitness fanatic even auctioned a piece of artwork and donated the proceeds to a young boy with cerebral palsy, the reported.
His artwork has been displayed on the Tube but was ultimately taken down.
More than 100 pieces were sold in 2014 in an attempt to "renounce violence" that plagued his past.
When did Charles Bronson marry Paula Williamson?
Bronson married Paula Williamson on November 14, 2017 - having previously wanted to tie the knot on her birthday in August.
The former Coronation Street actress arrived at Wakefield prison under a purple cloak.
Bronson was handcuffed to a prison guard for the duration of the two-hour ceremony, attended by just five guests.
He was not allowed to attend the wedding reception, so Williamson had to dance with a hired lookalike.
Williamson headed off to Malta for her honeymoon while Bronson was led straight back to his cell.
Paula emerged from the prison under a ghostly white shroud on top of her purple cloak, ensuring her dress was almost completely hidden from view.
She was then smuggled into the York House Hotel through a side door to continue the celebrations with friends and family - who had their phones confiscated as she reportedly sold picture rights to a newspaper.
But it seemed there were problems in the marriage after just six months with Paula admitting their relationship was "on the rocks" after Bronson made a series of demands about her weight.
Bronson reportedly instructed the actress to do 400 sit-ups a day after ordering her “don't get fat”.
This came after she learned Bronson may have set his parole back after allegedly stripping off and smearing butter on himself before challenging guards to a scrap.
Bronson was reported to be demanding a divorce following the publication of pictures showing Paula on a wild night out in Tenerife letting a lad bury his head in her boobs.
Williamson was found dead on July 29, 2019, at a house in Sneyd Green, Staffs Police confirmed.
Her death was not treated as suspicious by police.
Where is Charles Bronson today?
Bronson is still in jail in 2023.
He sent a voice recording to in 2022, in which he said: "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."
His solicitor Dean Kingham wrote a letter to Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to grant Bronson a free pardon.
The letter said: "You have the power under the Prerogative of Mercy to grant Mr Salvador's release without requiring him to go in front of the Parole board... he has not been violent for a significant number of years and his risk is primarily towards prison governors.
"The evidence in excess of the last five years is clear that his risk of violence has significantly reduced.
"The argument is that if he's been able to demonstrate that he's not violent in very high-risk situations in custody towards staff, governors, etc. then the risk falls away if he's released into the public because historically, while there was a risk to the public, it's never been as severe as that toward prison staff and governors.
"There is very good psychological research evidence that as someone ages the risk of violence decreases.
"When someone approaches 70 the research shows that the risk drops off to zero.
"Now, he's at that age bracket."
While admitting that he understood the Parole's concern about Bronson being a threat to public safety, Kingham added: "The Parole Board regularly releases people that have been convicted of murder.
"The whole process is based on reduction of risk."
What crimes has Charlies Bronson committed?
Bronson has been found guilty of a range of crimes which have attributed to almost 50 years behind bars.
He has 17 convictions and has taken 11 hostages during his time inside.
He was jailed for the first time in 1974, receiving a seven year sentence for armed robbery.
However, due to repeated attacks on prison guards, he wasn't released until 1987.
In 1994 Bronson held a prison librarian hostage, demanding an inflatable doll, a helicopter and a cup of tea as ransom.
In 1999, he held prison art teacher Phil Danielson at knifepoint for 43 hours at HMP Hull.
As a result of this incident, in 2000 he was sentenced to life in prison.