Former HMP Parkhurst Prisoner Charles Bronson Asks Justice Secretary To Be Freed

Former Isle of Wight HMP Parkhurst inmate and 'Britain's most violent prisoner', Charles Bronson, has asked the justice secretary for a free pardon.

Bronson, 70, is currently serving time in HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes - and now wants Dominic Raab to release him.

Bronson was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, but during his time in prison he has taken hostages, attacked prison officers and caused damage in rooftop protests.

Bronson was moved to Parkhurst - now HMP Isle of Wight - in 1976.

Now, in a new voice note sent to Sky News, Bronson said:

"Hopefully I've got a date soon, for my public parole hearing.

"I'm the first man in Britain to have a public one. And the reason that I'm doing that is that I'm going to expose the system for what it's done to me.

"I bet you can't believe I'm still in, can you? I'm 70 years old. I've never murdered anyone, I've never raped anyone."

"What am I in jail for? People don't believe it. They think I'm a serial killer.

"It's all coming out in the wash, my side of the story, and the truth is mate, it's going to shock the planet.

"Between you and me, I can still do 95 press-ups in 30 seconds, so I'm still the guv'nor."

David Berridge worked face to face with Britain's most violent criminals, from terrorists to serial killers, at the Island's maximum-security jail for more than 30 years.

His book - Inside Parkhurst, Stories Of A Prison Officer - shocking stories from three decades on the job are published in a book packed with dark encounters, at what became HMP Isle of Wight in 2009.

It was here where Berridge claims he saw Bronson almost killed, but refused any first aid until he passed out.

In the book, Berridge writes:

"On a warm summer’s day, Britain’s Most Notorious Inmate (BMNI) was on the compound, which was packed.

"Suddenly, the on-duty prison officer noticed a group had surrounded an inmate who was on the ground, struggling to get to his feet.

"BMNI was on the floor, covered in blood. He wanted nothing to do with any first aid. He slowly got to his feet, grabbed a handful of soil and began rubbing it into his numerous, very obvious stab wounds.

"With a punctured body and bruised ego, he walked away — and how the blood poured.

"Eventually, BMNI hobbled and wobbled his way across the yard until he reached the wing, which was now being banged up.

"Once he got back to his cell, he collapsed in peace — and only then would he be taken to hospital. He had at least 15 stab wounds, and there were no guarantees he would survive.

"A contract had been taken out on BMNI. Most of the other prisoners were terrified of his fearsome reputation and unpredictability. There would be consequences when he returned to the wing.

"But according to the prison grapevine, the matter was in hand — and the prison bigwigs were planning on shipping him out."

Bronson has moved prisons more than 100 times during his spell behind bars - much of which has been in solitary confinement.

In 2014, he changed his name to Charles Salvador.

It's claimed Bronson has made 'remarkable' progress in the past few years and has put his violent life behind him.

As one of Britain’s few top-security prisons, Parkhurst previously held some of the nation’s most notorious inmates, including the Kray twins, the Yorkshire Ripper and Moors Murderer, Ian Brady.

You can listen to the Charles Bronson voice note here - https://news.sky.com/story/charles-bronson-britains-most-notorious-prisoner-sends-a-voice-note-to-sky-news-12651484