Charles Bronson staged a sit-down protest in his ‘Monster Mansion’ jail after his apple crumble was served without custard. Britain’s most notorious inmate was livid at the dessert snub and refused to leave the exercise yard at Wakefield Prison, West Yorks, which earned its grim nickname due to its nefarious lags.
Riot Squad Called to Forcibly Return Bronson to Cell
Warders in riot gear had to be called in to force him back to his cell in the jail’s segregation unit. The stand-off was triggered when the 73-year-old lag was handed his favourite dessert minus its essential accompaniment. The veteran prisoner — who has spent more than half a century banged up — was said to be ‘infuriated’ and staged his protest the next day.
A source at the Category A prison said: “The whole thing started because he got apple crumble without custard the night before. He loves his food and saw it as another example of the prison not giving him what he believes he is entitled to so he decided to make his point in the yard.
“He was told more than once that exercise time was over and that he needed to come back inside but he simply dug his heels in. With Bronson even something as small as a pudding can become a major security headache because officers cannot afford to assume he is bluffing.
Bronson Shouts for Reggie Kray During Confrontation
“Once it became clear he was not moving, specially equipped officers had to be brought in to bring the incident to an end. Three teams comprised of three guards surrounded him. Bronson ran at the shield, looked to the sky and shouted: ‘This is for Reggie Kray’.”
Bronson was moved to Wakefield from HMP Long Lartin, Worcs, after attacking a prisoner and is held in solitary confinement for up to 23-hours-a-day. He cannot associate with other inmates and must shower and use the gym alone.
Bronson — who changed his name to Charles Salvador — was originally jailed in 1974 aged 22 for armed robbery and wounding. But he has spent most of his life inside following a series of attacks on warders and fellow prisoners in jails across Britain — including taking 11 hostages in nine sieges.
Custard Dust-Up Could Jeopardise Parole Hearing
Bronson is preparing for a parole board hearing in November and had hoped for a reduction in his security conditions ahead of a possible release on licence. “I've earned it. I've actually earned a bloody break in life,” he told a pal earlier this year. But the custard dust-up could kybosh his freedom chances.
A prison service spokesman said: “We do not comment on individual prisoners.”
