‘I’ve never been a danger to the public’: Armed robber Charles Bronson insists he ‘loves people’ and ‘hates violence’ – as Britain’s most notorious prisoner will find out TODAY if he will be released
- Charles Bronson is the UK’s most notorious prisoner, first jailed in 1974
- He has spent almost 50 years behind bars after a series of violent attacks
- He will discover today if he will walk free or have his prison conditions relaxed
Britain’s most notorious prisoner Charles Bronson insisted that he has ‘never been a danger to the public’ and that he ‘hates violence’ ahead of today’s parole board hearing where he will find out if he will be freed.
Bronson, 70, was jailed for just seven years in 1974 for armed robbery, but has been in prison ever since after his sentence was extended to life.
While inside he has carried out a series of violent attacks and hostage taking against prison guards and fellow inmates, and is now being kept in some of the toughest conditions in the UK jail system.
But in a voice note send to Sky News, Bronson insisted he ‘loves people’ and does not pose a threat if released.
A panel is widely expected to reject his bid for freedom today, as well as his request to be moved to an open prison, after even a psychologist called by the criminal said he should probably stay where he is.
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of notorious inmate Charles Bronson
In a voice note Bronson claims to have raised ‘thousands and thousands’ of pounds for cancer charities and children’s hospices while inside, adding he is to launch his own charity to help people.
He continued: ‘They keep f***ing drumming it into the public I’m a danger. Who am I a danger to?
‘I’ve never been a danger to the public. I love people, love ’em, I love the world. I’m not a f****** filthy terrorist or a rapist, or a murderer, so who am I dangerous to outside?’
Bronson added: ‘I hate violence, I despise it and that’s all I’ve done for the last ten years, sit in my cell, a model prisoner, polite, respectful but they still won’t let me out.’
He has been locked up for the majority of the past 50 years, save for several brief spells of freedom.
In February the criminal, who was 22 when he was first jailed in 1974, asked parole chiefs to let him out despite admitting nine rooftop protests, as well as 10 hostage sieges with at least 11 vicitms.
He has had seven failed attempts to be released on parole so far.
Bronson suffers from PTSD because of his ‘brutal’ treatment in prison, a hearing heard.
He reportedly told his wife Irene Dunroe this week that he expects to be free imminently, but under curfew and with an electric tag.
Bronson claims to want to pursue a career as an artist if he is released, and reportedly submitted works of art to the parole board for consideration.
He is currently only allowed outside of his cell for 90 minutes per day and is able to socialise with only a handful of prisoners.
Bronson claims to ‘hate violence’ and says he has never been a danger to the public
Bronson leaving the High Court in London
Adrian Wallace (pictured) was once taken hostage, tied up and beaten during five hours of hell at the hands of Charles Bronson. He says the violent criminal shouldn’t be freed from jail yet
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, a former hostage and ex-prison governor explained his fears Bronson will not be able to conform to strict parole conditions if released.
Adrian Wallace, 82, was tied up and repeatedly beaten by Bronson in a five-hour ordeal.
Bronson received seven extra years on his sentence for the incident, but Mr Wallace suffered suspected PTSD which saw him leave the prison service on a disability pension some years later.
As he told the Parole Board: ‘I can assure the board that being taken hostage does have a significant effect on one’s mental stability long after the actual incident.
‘Post-traumatic stress disorder does kick in at regular intervals and flashbacks and other issues are not uncommon.’
He pointed out that Bronson has often stressed that he never killed anyone, but added: ‘He might wish to reflect on the lives that he has ruined, with particular attention being paid to the teacher at Hull special unit whom he took hostage and whose career and lifestyle was dramatically changed as a consequence.’
In 2000, Bronson was handed a life sentence for kidnapping prison art teacher Phil Danielson in Hull Prison the previous year.
In a 43-hour ordeal, Mr Danielson was beaten and stabbed, and was left with panic attacks and PTSD and has never worked again.
In one of Bronson’s frequent outbursts in the Parole hearing, he made it clear he certainly had no remorse in the case of Mr Wallace, shouting out: ‘Governor Wallace was an a*****e, is an a*****e and will die an a*****e.’
He has previously mocked the conditions which ex-prisoners have to follow on release.
In an interview in 2021, Bronson said: ‘Let’s just say they say I’m not allowed to walk past the Post Office, well, how do I know if there’s a Post Office round the f*****g corner?
‘Now in a paedophile’s case they’re not allowed to walk past schools, but how do they know if there’s a school round the corner?
‘And you’re not allowed to talk to girls? Well, what happens if a girl talks to you.
‘I’m going to be on very thin ice out there. But at least it’s half freedom.
‘The only thing I’m not looking forward to is that f*****g tag on my ankle – for three months I think. How do you ever shower with that on?
‘How do you put your socks on? I won’t be able to wear my suspenders and tights with them!’
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