Charles Bronson to Challenge Sentence in Ninth Parole Hearing
Britain's most dangerous prisoner, Charles Bronson, has pledged to expose what he calls his unlawful sentence as it is confirmed he will undergo his ninth parole hearing. Now 73 years old, Bronson has spent over five decades in custody, first imprisoned in 1974 at age 21 for armed robbery. His dramatic prison escapades have regularly made national headlines, cementing his infamy.
Parole Board Confirms Oral Hearing
The Parole Board has confirmed that Bronson will be given an oral hearing in the coming months, where he could make a plea for freedom. In a letter to Sky News, Bronson stated his intention to expose this unlawful sentence and treatment, saying, It's now gone on for far too long, it's become a total joke. This development offers hope for Bronson, one of Britain's longest-serving and most notorious prisoners, as it allows for a fuller examination of his suitability for release.
Bronson, originally from Luton, had his sentence extended to life due to repeated violent incidents, including hostage-taking, prison escapes, and grievous bodily harm. A notorious example occurred in 1997 when he was jailed for an additional seven years after taking three prisoners hostage at Belmarsh high-security prison in southeast London. During that siege, he barricaded himself in, threatened to eat one hostage, and demanded a helicopter to Cuba, along with an axe, a sub-machine gun, a cheese sandwich, and an ice cream. The standoff ended only after he cut himself with a razor.
Decades of Solitary Confinement and Legal Battles
Charles Bronson, born Michael Gordon Peterson, has spent periods in high-security psychiatric hospitals such as Rampton, Broadmoor, and Ashworth. Over the past 50 years, he has largely been in solitary confinement, with 23 hours a day isolation for 37 years on and off. Despite this, it has been 12 years since his last violent conviction. Bronson argues that his treatment under the justice system has been unlawful and denies him progress, stating in his letter, I am 23 years over my tariff. I am forever denied progress. I am forever kept in solitary. They won't even take me off Cat A.
The most recent review into Bronson was initially considered on the papers, where written evidence from prison officials, psychologists, and probation staff was assessed. However, this week, the Parole Board decided to progress to an oral hearing. This will involve in-person evidence testing to thoroughly evaluate Bronson's current risk levels before determining if he can be safely released into the community. Alternatively, he could be moved to an open prison or a lower-category wing to test his coping abilities.
Solicitor's Statement and Bronson's History
Gurdeep Singh, Bronson's solicitor, told Sky News, 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. He wants to show the world he is not the person he was, he hopes to convince the panel that he is a changed man intent on living a simple life in the outside world. He has high hopes he can see his 95-year-old mother this year.
Initially sentenced to seven years in 1974, Bronson has since accumulated more time for a series of violent offences inside prison. Over the years, he has taken 11 hostages in nine different confrontations with guards, culminating in holding a prison art teacher captive for 44 hours in 1999. This led to a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of three years in 2000, which he is still serving. The Parole Board, the independent body responsible for release decisions, has repeatedly denied him freedom, with eight previous parole reviews, the latest in 2023.
Public Hearing Controversy and Rule Changes
Bronson was the first prisoner to formally request a public hearing after rules changed in 2022 to increase transparency in the parole process. His solicitor applied on his behalf in February last year, arguing that Bronson felt directly responsible for this rule change and had a legitimate expectation of a public hearing. However, the Parole Board refused in May last year, stating that this does not grant him any legitimate expectation for subsequent hearings to be public.
The board acknowledged that public hearings could increase public understanding but noted they are expensive and time-consuming, requiring selective use only when likely to benefit the public or victims. Bronson reacted to the refusal by dismissing the process as a farcical jam roll, meaning parole, and questioning, What are they afraid of? The truth getting out? He added, Sacked the legal team! A new solicitor has since achieved the rescheduling of the review to this week, marking a potentially historic move in evaluating the release application of Britain's most violent prisoner.
