Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson is eyeing the chance of 25 years of freedom with a new parole bid coming up. The armed robber believes he could be out by the age of 75 in a probation hostel and then pave the way for a full-time release.
And the 73-year-old, who has spent over 50 years in prison, is adamant he does not want to die behind bars. The Parole Board said his next hearing will be in November. Bronson said in a conversation with a friend: "I'm very hopeful. I'm not expecting to get it, but I'm expecting to get something. And once I've had this parole out of the way, they've then got two years to sort me out, put me in a cat C, cat D, give me a hostel, give me some home leave, and they're not giving me anything. I've earned it. I've actually earned... a bloody break in life."
A source added: "He knows a release this year is unlikely, but he wants to build on progress made in recent years. If he could look to be out when he is 75, he could live to be 100. That's 25 years of freedom. He's spent double that in prison. It's a second chance of life."
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: "An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Charles Salvador and is scheduled to take place in November 2026. Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims."
Bronson, who has changed his name to Charles Salvador, was first jailed in 1974 at the age of 22 for armed robbery and wounding. He was released in 1987 and became a bare-knuckle boxer but was jailed the following year for another armed robbery. Bronson has spent most of his life inside for a string of attacks on warders and prisoners, earning him the reputation of Britain's most violent inmate.
In one trial he described how he had held 11 hostages in nine different sieges. The last parole hearing two years ago refused to move him to an open prison. Bronson is now held at Monster Mansion, HMP Wakefield, which holds some of the most serious criminals in the country.
