The UK's longest serving female prisoner, Maria Pearson, is set to be released after spending nearly 39 years behind bars. The Parole Board approved her release, stating that she poses no more than a minimal risk of further serious offending. Pearson was jailed in 1986 for stabbing Janet Newton 17 times in a jealous rage after Newton became engaged to Pearson's ex-boyfriend.
1. Robert Maudsley (52 years)
Robert Maudsley, known as Britain's real-life Hannibal Lecter, is the country's longest serving prisoner. He was first imprisoned in 1974 for the murder of builder John Farrell. While incarcerated, Maudsley killed two prisoners in Wakefield and tortured a patient to death in Broadmoor. Despite rumors that he ate the brains of one victim, this has been disproved. His nephew stated in a podcast that Maudsley endured child abuse, adding, 'Nobody is born a serial killer.'
2. Charles Bronson (52 years)
Charles Bronson, also known as Charles Salvador, has been in prison for 52 years. Despite never killing anyone, he is considered the UK's most violent prisoner. He was first jailed in 1974 for armed robbery. In 2000, he received a discretionary life sentence after taking a prison teacher hostage for 44 hours. His friend Noel 'Razor' Smith said, 'I think they will do the same to him as they done to Reggie Kray, when he is infirm and dying, they will let him out for his last couple weeks.'
3. John 'Bruce' Childs (47 years)
Serial killer John 'Bruce' Childs is regarded as 'Britain's most prolific hitman.' He received a life sentence in 1980 for confessing to six murders, including that of a 10-year-old child. He is serving a whole-life tariff. Crime correspondent Jeff Edwards described his 'extraordinary penchant for violence.' None of his victims' bodies have ever been found.
4. Jeremy Bamber (41 years)
Jeremy Bamber, now 64, was convicted of murdering his adoptive parents, his sister, and her six-year-old twin sons in the White House Farm murders in 1985. He maintains his innocence. Appeal lawyer Emily Bolton, who overturned Andrew Malkinson's wrongful conviction, said the Bamber case 'bears all the hallmarks' of a miscarriage of justice. She stated, 'This evidence should have been in front of the jury – and it was not.' Bamber's team plans to submit a report to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
5. Maria Pearson (39 years)
Maria Pearson, the longest serving female prisoner, will be released on licence with strict conditions, including an electronic tag for a year. The victim's sister, Lynn, opposed her release, saying, 'She is not only Britain's longest female prisoner but Britain's most dangerous female prisoner as well.'
