Charles Bronson, one of the UK's longest-serving prisoners, has lost his bid for release after a public parole hearing earlier this month. The Parole Board ruled that the 70-year-old, who has spent most of his life behind bars, was not suitable for freedom.
Born Michael Peterson in Luton, Bedfordshire, in December 1952, Bronson was first jailed in 1974 for armed robbery and wounding. He changed his name to Charles Bronson during a brief spell of freedom in the 1980s and now uses Charles Salvador, meaning 'saviour' in Spanish. He has earned a reputation as a violent and dangerous inmate, with a history of attacks on prison staff and fellow prisoners.
His criminal record includes numerous hostage-taking incidents, including a 1994 siege where he demanded an inflatable doll, a helicopter, and a cup of tea. In 1999, he took a prison education worker hostage for 44 hours, leading to a discretionary life sentence. More recently, in 2014, he received a two-year term for holding a prison governor in a headlock.
Despite his violent past, Bronson has also produced artworks that have raised around £100,000 for charity. He has published several books and was the subject of a 2009 film starring Tom Hardy. At his latest parole hearing, an independent psychologist suggested he showed signs of PTSD due to 'brutal and unacceptable treatment' in prison.
Bronson's prison offender manager noted improvements in his emotional control and a reduction in outbursts. However, the Parole Board concluded that he would not cope with release and remains at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes.
