Britain’s most famous prisoner will make his “last bid for freedom” 50 years after his original sentence.
Charles Bronson, now 72, has been locked up for just over half a century for committing an armed robbery in 1974.
But now, the infamous criminal will appear before the parole board for the ninth and final time.
Speaking to the Mirror, a friend said: ‘He fears dying in prison. This could be his only chance for freedom.
‘It has been several years since he became violent.
‘He is no longer the person he was and we hope that this year he will be released.’
Having legally changed his name to Charles Salvador, Bronson has not spent all of those 50 years in prison.
In 1987, he was released and pursued a career in bare-knuckle boxing. But he was jailed again the following year after committing another armed robbery.
This will be Charles Bronson’s ninth attempt to apply for parole, having failed on the previous eight occasions.
Bronson is currently detained at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
Since that second arrest, Bronson has had his sentence extended numerous times due to a series of attacks on guards and other inmates.
It is these attacks that have earned the 72-year-old the title of Britain’s most violent prisoner.
Bronson’s last parole hearing came in 2022, where his request to be transferred to an open prison was denied.
On that occasion, the parole board saw evidence of “increased self-control and emotional management” but could not be satisfied that he “had the skills to manage his risk of future violence.”
He is currently imprisoned in Milton Keynes at HMP Woodhill.
The parole hearing could last more than a day and psychiatrists, prison officials and victims will have to present evidence.
However, former Met detective Peter Bleksley has poured cold water on the prospect of Bronson being granted early release for the ninth time he has applied for it.
‘I think there will be great fear within the parole board that Charles Bronson could be released. “He has an appalling criminal record while he is behind bars,” he said.