THE man nicknamed "Britain's most notorious prisoner", Charles Bronson was initially sentenced to seven years in jail for armed robbery but will serve life instead.

He has spent time in some of Britain's most secure psychiatric facilities but is currently imprisoned at HM Prison Woodhill in Milton Keynes.

Who is Charles Bronson?

Charles Bronson was born in 1952, with the Luton local quickly turning to gang fights in his youth.

Armed robber Bronson has spent more than 45 years behind bars after repeatedly having his sentence increased for attacking prison staff and taking them hostage.

Writing in his 2000 book Bronson, he said: "I'm a nice guy, but sometimes I lose all my senses and become nasty. That doesn't make me evil, just confused".

Bronson has changed his name a number of times, with his different titles defining certain periods in his life.

Born Michael Gordon Peterson, he changed his name to Charles Bronson during a short stint of freedom, using the new persona to launch an illegal bare-knuckle fighting career.

Police caught up with Bronson in 1987, arresting him under his fighting name which he decided to stick to.

The criminal converted briefly to Islam in 2001 and became known as Charles Ali Ahmed after marrying Fatema Saira Rehman, a woman who had started to write to him during his time behind bars.

In August 2014, Charles announced he was legally changing his name to Charles Salvador – a tribute to the artist Salvador Dali.

He has married three times, his first marriage was in 1971 before his first arrest.

Former model Gemma Fernandez has reportedly struck up a friendship with the 69-year-old criminal and opened up about her visit to HMP Woodhill on her YouTube channel.

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Why is he in prison?

Bronson was first sentenced to seven years in jail over an armed robbery in 1974 – which was extended by nine months after he attacked a fellow prisoner with a glass jug.

He later attempted to strangle Gordon Robinson while at Broadmoor, before causing £250,000 worth of damage when he staged a three-day protest on a rooftop.

The serial criminal was eventually released in 1987, where he changed his name to Charles Bronson on the advice of his bare-knuckle boxing promoter.

But it was not long before he was back in jail, after robbing a jewellery shop in 1988 and sentenced to seven more years inside.

Bronson was released early from his sentence in 1992 – but was back behind bars 53 days later for intent to commit robbery.

After holding three men hostage in his cell, the Luton lad saw another seven years added to his sentence – although this was cut to five on appeal.

Following further incidents, he was finally given a life sentence after kidnapping a prison teacher in 1999, causing destruction to the prison.

After being held at a number of prisons across the country – including the likes of Broadmoor and Belmarsh – he returned to HM Prison Woodhill in 2018, where Bronson is currently incarcerated.

In June 2020, a High Court ruled in his favour ruling for the right for his parole board meeting to be held in public in the name of a fair trial.

When could Bronson be released?

Bronson has not been given an official release date as he is being held indefinitely.

In 2017, he insisted that he will be out "sooner than a lot think".

He made the claim amid a spat with Michael Coleman, his actress fiancee's ex.

In a chilling note he wrote: "You or anybody got anything to say (tell me when I’m out).”

And he added: “AND I’ll be out sooner than a lot think…"

But in July 2018 Bronson sent a scathing letter to wife Paula saying he would "rather die in prison" than live her "alcohol existence".

He has been moved prisons 120 times during his 43-year stint behind bar, much of which was spent in solitary confinement.

He said: "I'm the first man in the British Isles to have a public parole hearing. All these decades I've done."

Despite his suspicions of being released, he continues to be behind bars in 2022.

Is Charles Bronson's art for sale?

Charles Bronson turned to art after spending decades behind bars, even changing his name to Charles Salvador and starting an art foundation in that name.

The fitness fanatic even auctioned a piece of artwork and donated the proceeds to a young boy with cerebral palsy, the Milton Keynes Citizen reported.

His artwork has also been displayed on the Tube but was ultimately taken down.

More than 100 pieces were sold in 2014 in an attempt to "renounce violence" that plagued his past.

When did Charles Bronson marry Paula Williamson?

Bronson married Paula Williamson on November 14, 2017 – having previously wanted to tie the knot on her birthday in August.

Former Corrie actress Paula Williamson was bundled into Wakefield jail under a purple cloak after a bizarre procession through the town led by a lookalike and a woman on a mobility scooter.

Charles was handcuffed to a warder for the strictly controlled two-hour ceremony witnessed by just five guests.

A reception was held at a local hotel, but Paula headed to Malta without her new husband as he was led back to his cell after the ceremony.

Paula emerged from the prison under a ghostly white shroud on top of her purple cloak, ensuring her dress was almost completely hidden from view.

She was then smuggled into the York House Hotel through a side door to continue the celebrations with friends and family – who had their phones confiscated as she reportedly sold picture rights to a newspaper.

But it seemed there were problems in the marriage after just six months with Paula admitting their relationship was "on the rocks" after Bronson made a series of demands about her weight.

Bronson reportedly instructed the actress to do 400 sit-ups a day after ordering her “don't get fat”.

This came after she learned Bronson may have set his parole back after allegedly stripping off and smearing butter on himself before challenging guards to a scrap.

Bronson was reported to be demanding a divorce following the publication of pictures showing Paula on a wild night out in Tenerife letting a lad bury his head in her boobs.

He branded his wife a “drunken tart” in a furious letter, writing: "Ronnie Kray would say to you, ‘You slag!”

“Keep on drinking, keep on showing yourself up, keep on disrespecting me, keep on pretending.

“Do what you need to survive, behind closed doors, not in a bar with six geezers and snogging on camera.

"My life, my world, is a million miles away from yours. Your world stinks of falseness and drunken liars.

“You need to reflect and look inside your own heart, coz all I see is a deep black hole.

"My life is so much more at peace than yours.

"I told you from day one 'never ever humiliate your man'.

"You have a drug, drink problem, sort it out or do one.

"I would prefer to die in prison than live your alcaholic (sic) existance (sic)."

He then warns: "If Eira (Bronson's mum) finds out…and she gets upset…the divorce papers will be in the post. That I promise you."

Williamson was found dead on July 29, 2019 at a house in Sneyd Green, Staffs Police confirmed.

Her death was not treated as suspicious by police.

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