Psychologist opens up on mind of Charles Bronson at parole board ...

Bronson has coped 'pretty well'

The psychologist said that Bronson has coped “pretty well” sitting through the parole hearing.

She told the panel: “We’re expecting too much if we expect Mr Salvador to sit in a situation like this and not become frustrated and not become loud, belligerent and swear.”

The psychologist added: “In the past, he would not have been able to tolerate this at all without some sort of outburst.

“Mr Salvador is going to be rude to people on occasion. He is going to swear at people on occasion.”

On Monday, Bronson could be heard muttering under his breath at points and sighing loudly as proceedings continued, but he largely remained silent as the psychologist gave evidence on Wednesday.

There was one point when he was described as a retired prison activist, which he said was “the best thing I’ve ever heard”.

Bronson should be 'tested in open conditions'

The psychologist told the hearing that she "would like to see [Bronson] moved down through security".

She says he "should be tested in open conditions where he can feel he's making some progress".

The independent expert says he's "incredibly capable of causing absolute mayhem while he's in isolated conditions", but he has "mellowed out" with old age.

When the psychologist refers to his label as a "retired prison activist", Bronson said: "It's the best thing I've ever heard."

Bronson should be allowed to interact with others, psychologist said

The psychologist said that she believes Bronson should be moved to open conditions to allow him more interaction with other people.

He currently mixes with only three other inmates, one of whom he does not like and avoids, the parole panel has already been told.

She said: “I believe that Mr Salvador poses less of a risk in a community environment than in a prison environment, and I stand by that assessment.

“Of course, I’m talking about a highly supportive community environment and I’m talking about a gradual move into a community environment.”

Wearing a black t-shirt with white writing on it, and his trademark dark, round glasses, Bronson could be seen rocking his chair backwards and forwards as the psychologist gave evidence.

One of the UK’s longest-serving inmates, he has held 11 hostages in nine different sieges while he has been incarcerated – with victims including governors, doctors, staff and, on one occasion, his own solicitor.

Bronson 'less of a risk'

The expert reveals that Bronson currently sees a psychologist from behind a clear screen but suffers from hearing issues so is unable to participate fully.

She said that Bronson deals with his feelings "vastly different" to 1999 when he held art teacher Phil Danielson hostage.

She told the hearing: "I've never written this in a report but I stand by it; I believe that Mr Salvador is less of a risk in a community environment than a prison environment.

"I'm talking about a highly supportive community environment and a gradual move into a community environment.

'Sensitive to slights and feeling humiliated'

The psychologist says that Bronson took art teacher Phil Danielson hostage in 1999 because it was a "cathartic event".

She told the hearing: "He's sensitive to slights and feeling humiliated and degraded. He feels the whole system is about humiliating him and degrading him."

Bronson 'still has PTSD symptoms'

A psychologist hired by Bronson's legal team has told the hearing that Bronson is suffering from mild PTSD and says he previously harboured fears that "prison officers would kill him".

She said he had "anti-authoritarian views" and "that was not going to change".

However, the expert said that he has been subjected to "brutal and unacceptable" treatment in prison - but has never received treatment for PTSD.

She said: "It seems he still has PTSD symptoms but they are more in the mild range and he shows hypervigilance.

"He has thoughts about things that have happened to him in previous years in prison.

"He feels uncomfortable if a prison officer is behind him or if his door is unlocked.

"He immediately says to himself, 'Oh, what's this', and he's hypervigilant."

Second day of Bronson's hearing has started

The second day of Charles Bronson's parole hearing is underway at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Bronson is given a five-minute window to "clear the air" so he can reflect on Monday's hearing.

He criticised the decision to include details of a letter sent to him in his cell which was laced with drugs.

Bronson said that he has since been told the letter could have been "contaminated" if the letter writer was smoking drugs or by other letters sent to the prison.

He told the hearing: "Yesterday I was humiliated and degraded and I never slept over it.

"It was mentioned about drugs. I'm the most anti-drug man on the planet. I despise drugs and I despise people who deal in drugs. It's never been in my life.

"The only time I've ever had it was when I was forcibly held down and injected in a psychiatric unit."

Do you think Bronson should be released? Take out poll

A Mirror poll so far suggests nearly 70 per cent of the public feel Charles Bronson should get his freedom after spending most of his adult life behind bars.

Dubbed one of Britain's most violent offenders, Bronson - who changed his surname to Salvador in 2014 after the artist Salvador Dali, has been in prison for much of the last 50 years, often spending time in solitary confinement or specialist units.

Bronson previously told how he was first sent to jail in 1968 and has held 11 hostages in nine different sieges - with victims including governors, doctors, staff and, on one occasion, his own solicitor.

He was sentenced in 2000 to a discretionary life term with a minimum of four years for taking a prison teacher at HMP Hull hostage for 44 hours. Since then, the Parole Board has repeatedly refused to direct his release.

Read more here

Bronson artwork being sold for £6,000

An "intense" piece of artwork by Charles Bronson which shows an inmate being tortured is being sold on eBay for £6,000

The disturbing sketch - drawn by the UK's most notorious prisoner - brings to life his depiction of an asylum.

His colourful illustration shows machinery being gouged into an inmate's eyes and parts of their limbs being torn off.

It comes as a Mirror poll so far suggests nearly 70 per cent of the public feel he should get his freedom after spending most of his adult life behind bars.

Read more here

Bronson's public parole hearing to resume today

The public parole hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice will continue today for notorious prisoner Charles Bronson.

The hearing on Wednesday is expected to begin with evidence from an independent psychologist commissioned by Bronson's legal team, then a community offender manager, and then a friend of Bronson's.

No hearing for Tuesday

The second day of the parole hearing will take place on Wednesday, March 8.

The Parole Board will be deciding if one of the UK's longest-serving prisoners should remain behind bars. He is the second inmate in UK legal history to have his case heard in public.

The hearing on Monday was punctuated with Bronson's outbursts and sighs. When the panel paused so his offender management could read documents, he said: "We're going to be here all f***ing day."

A list of Bronson's offences as he seeks parole for his crimes

By Flora Thompson and Margaret Davis, PA

Bronson’s first conviction was in 1974 when he was 21 and was jailed for seven years for robbery, aggravated burglary, assault with intent to rob and possession of a firearm.He was convicted for wounding again in 1975, 1978 and 1985, then in 1987 he was released from prison at the age of 34.After 69 days he was back in prison, sentenced in 1988 for seven years for robbery at a jewellers’ shop.He was later released from prison in 1992, but weeks later was jailed for eight years for intent to rob and has been behind bars since then for violent offences committed while in custody.In 1994 he was given seven years for false imprisonment and blackmail, then in 1997 he took a deputy prison governor, staff and three inmates hostage for which he received five years.Later, in 1999, he took an art teacher hostage for three days and was given a life sentence with a minimum term of three years which expired in 2003.In 2014 he was further sentenced to three years for assaulting a prison governor.

8 bizarre remarks notorious prisoner made during public parole hearing

Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson branded himself "almost an angel" while also saying he has little remorse for some of his hostage victims.

These are among some of the bizarre comments he made while trying to convince the panel of his public parole hearing that he's ready to be released.

It comes after he said "there’s nothing better than wrapping a governor up like a Christmas turkey" when talking about taking hostages in prison.

The Parole Board will be deciding if one of the UK's longest-serving prisoners should remain behind bars. He is the second inmate in UK legal history to have his case heard in public.

Read the full story here.

How long will the parole hearing go on for before we learn the outcome?

The Parole Board earlier confirmed the latest case review of one of the UK's longest-serving prisoners, to decide whether he should remain behind bars, began on Monday.

An application by Bronson's lawyers to request the hearing takes place in public was granted last year.

Dubbed one of Britain's most violent offenders, Bronson, who changed his surname to Salvador in 2014 after the artist Salvador Dali, has been in prison for much of the last 50 years, often spending time in solitary confinement or specialist units.

Bronson previously told how he was first sent to jail in 1968 and has held 11 hostages in nine different sieges - with victims including governors, doctors, staff and, on one occasion, his own solicitor.

He was sentenced in 2000 to a discretionary life term with a minimum of four years for taking a prison teacher at HMP Hull hostage for 44 hours. Since then, the Parole Board has repeatedly refused to direct his release.

The hearing will continue on Wednesday, March 8 with the outcome decided thereafter.

How Charles Bronson's life of crime began

Bronson told the parole hearing today that he was "born to have a rumble," but that he had a "beautiful childhood."

He said: "I just went wrong, I don’t know how, I don’t know why. I just enjoyed the excitement."

Bronson previously told how he was first sent to jail in 1968 and has held 11 hostages in nine different sieges - with victims including governors, doctors, staff and, on one occasion, his own solicitor.

Read more here.

Supporters want Bronson freed from jail

Betting claim could be investigated

Bronson claimed during his parole hearing today he had been betting for much of the last 50 years while behind bars and won £1,500 last year.

Prisoners are banned from gambling and could face sanctions for doing so. The application of prison rules was a matter for the governor, according to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and such claims would be expected to be investigated.

Bronson wants art career if freed

Bronson's offender management told today's parole hearing how the inmate wants to support himself financially through an art career when he is freed from jail.

She said: "He loves his artwork, he loves his radio. Charlie is used to solitary time, he doesn't enjoy it but he copes well.

"He has his exercise and he has his routine. Sometimes he's frustrated when things change at short notice."

She added: "He wants to go and live a quiet life and concentrate on his artwork. He feels he can support himself financially through his artwork.

"He has some good friends that he speaks of and family."

Asked what of her greatest concerns about Bronson's release, the offender management said: "That he will struggle in the community and he would have the skills to deal with such a vast change so quickly."

Bronson's parole hearing littered with bizarre remarks

Charles Bronson's parole hearing was full of a range of strange remarks from Britain's best-known prison inmate.

Talking about taking hostages in prison, Bronson said "there’s nothing better than wrapping a governor up like a Christmas turkey."

He also said his behaviour now makes him "almost an angel."

He also complained about the length of the parole hearing.

Amid long pauses, while the panel asked his prisoner offender manager questions, Bronson said: “We will be here all f****** day, won’t we?

For more of Bronson's remarks today, read more here.

Charles Bronson's life and crimes

Britain's most notorious prisoner has a long history behind bars.

Born Michael Gordon Peterson in Luton in 1952, Bronson was one of three sons and his aunt and uncle were even the town mayor and mayoress at one point.

The family briefly moved to Cheshire's Ellesmere Port and it was there things started to go wrong for the inmate.

Bronson said was first sent to jail in 1968 and has held 11 hostages in nine different sieges - with victims including governors, doctors, staff and, on one occasion, his own solicitor.

He was then slapped with a seven-year sentence for armed robbery in 1974 and Bronson was sent to HMP Liverpool.

This sentence was extended by nine months after Bronson attacked a fellow inmate with a glass jug.

His behaviour behind bars meant he wasn't released until 1987, when Bronson finally changed his name.

Another robbery the following year earned him seven more years in jail.

His early release in 1992 lasted only 53 days and then another seven years were added - later cut to five on appeal - after he held three men hostage in his cell.

It wasn't until Bronson kidnapped prison art teacher Phil Danielson in 1999 after he criticised one of his paintings that a life sentence was given.

Phil Danielson's Charles Bronson ordeal

One of the infamous events involving Bronson's time in jail was when he was given a life sentence after kidnapping prison teacher Phil Danielson in 1999.

Danielson told the Channel 4 documentary Bronson: Fit To Be Free? that "Bronson burst into the room, grabbed me by the throat and punched me in the face."

The art teacher also said Bronson told him he was going to die.

Today, Bronson said his response now would be to have "chinned" Danielson.

'Risk of violence is untested'

Bronson describes how he manages negative feelings

Bronson said he now has ways of managing negative feelings.

He said: “When I’m in my cell and I’ve got a bad letter, or something’s happened, or someone has been nasty or whatever, I can sit in my cell now and switch off, and go into myself with deep breathing.

“Sometimes people push, push, push, take the piss, it’s blatant piss-taking, and some people need a slap, it’s as simple as that.”

In 2014 he decided to change his surname to Salvador, which he said means man of peace.

“Bronson was a nasty b*d,” he said. “I wasn’t a nice person and I didn’t like him. Salvador is a man of peace. I feel peaceful.”

Asked about an incident in 2015 when he threw his own faeces at another prisoner, Bronson claimed the inmate had killed four people and had insulted him, calling him an OAP and a nobody, and threatened to stab him.

He also claimed that the prisoner had asked him to do it so that he could claim compensation.

'Prison today is full of fairies'

Bronson said he felt remorse for taking art teacher Phil Danielson hostage, but not the governor of Hull prison Adrian Wallace, or three Iraqi inmates he held at Belmarsh.

The inmate also said he is not ashamed of his protests when he climbed on to prison roofs.

“Why would I be ashamed? I’m fighting the penal system that has done humiliating things to me for decades,” he said.

Describing his treatment by the prison system over the years he said: “If I was a dog I’d have had the RSPCA on my side.”

He said prison now is more like a hospital, and that other inmates have CD and DVD players in their cells, and their own bedding.

“I don’t want my cell to be a furnished bedsit… Unfortunately prison today is full of fairies,” Bronson said.

'I take them hostage and I'm the animal'

In 1998 Bronson took two Iraqi aircraft hijackers and another inmate hostage at Belmarsh Prison in London.

He insisted his prisoners call him "General" and told negotiators he would eat one of his victims unless his demands were met.

He told his parole hearing: "They threatened to blow up a f***ing plane. I take them hostage and I'm the animal.

"They are all out now and I'm still in here. I've got no compassion for them."

Bronson hints at another film about his life

Bronson said if he was freed from prison he would slip away to the countryside and there were plans for a second film about his life.

In 2008 Hollywood A-lister Tom Hardy played him in the 2008 movie Bronson.

Bronson said: "There's talk of another film about me. I won't see who's going to play me because it's personal.

"I will also be bringing a book out. What a wonderful world."

Bronson asked about his victims

Asked about causing one of his victims – a prison governor – post-traumatic stress disorder, Bronson said: “That was 30 years ago and I’ve moved on from that long ago.

“Governor (Adrian) Wallace was an a*****e, is an a*****e and will die an a*****e.”

Referring to Phil Danielson, the prison art teacher he took hostage for three days, Bronson said he would like to meet him after his release.

He told the panel if he had his time again he would “probably have just chinned him”.

Bronson said the most humiliating thing he did to the teacher was tying a skipping rope around his neck and walking him around the prison landing.

'I'm just a normal geezer'

Asked about difficult situations he might face if released, Bronson said: “If some muppet wants to fight me or cause me problems I will handle it in a different way.”

He said he behaves like a “gentleman” and plans to go and live in the country if released.

He told the panel: “Give a man a break. We could be sitting around this table until the cow jumps over the moon talking the same old crap.

“I’m just a normal geezer wanting to get on with his life.”

He previously told the hearing how he is “almost an angel now” compared with his old self.

“I have not walked on grass for over 30 years and I dream of walking on grass,” he said.

The 70-year-old said he has changed his ways and there would be no more “rumbles” behind bars.

He is in a unit of eight inmates, and has time out of his cell with three others, one of whom he does not like and avoids.

But he said on a larger wing he would be able to handle any conflict should it arise.

'I love a rumble'

When questioned about several incidents behind bars a few years ago and why they happened, Bronson said: “I love a rumble. What man doesn’t?”

Describing one incident, in which the parole review was told he stripped naked and “greased up”, he said: “I took half a tub of Lurpak with me, stripped off and had the rumble of my life. It was f****** brilliant.”

Addressing his time at Woodhill, he said: “I’ve had four years here now, I think I’ve outstayed my welcome.”

Charles Bronson shares why he changed his name

The parole review heard how Bronson’s real name was Michael Peterson.

Asked why he changed his name to Charles Bronson, he said it was an alias dreamed up when he went into boxing once he was released in prison.

Bronson told the parole panel that notorious east London gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray – who he says he served time behind bars with – recommended he get into unlicensed boxing, and when he got a manager he was told to come up with an alias for “tax” purposes.

He said he fought six fights while out on release, five against men and one against a Rottweiler.

He was later charged under the name of Charles Bronson in 1987, the hearing was told.

“I love boxing, my father was a great champion boxer, it is a fraternity, it is a family … we used to box in prison but they are run by namby-pamby people now,” he said.

Bronson later told the hearing: “I lost the plot in prison”, adding: “The only thing I knew was violence.”