Charles Bronson takes prison governor to court over human rights

The Telegraph
4th December 2009
By Alice-Azania Jarvis

Charles Bronson, Britain's most dangerous prison inmate, is taking a prison governor to court for violating his human rights by punishing him for promoting a film about his life.

Bronson, 56, has spent the last 35 years behind bars after being jailed for seven years following an armed robbery in 1974 where he stole just £26.

Since then he has taken 11 hostages, fought 20 prison wardens, attacked dozens of fellow inmates and spent most of his time in solitary confinement.

Now he is taking the governor of Long Lartin Jail, Worcs., to court after claiming he was unnecessarily punished after a film about his life, titled 'Bronson', hit the cinemas in March.

A recording of Bronson's voice joking ''See you at the Oscars'' rumbled out to viewers at the West End premiere of the film and prison managers launched an investigation into how the secret recording was made.

At the same time, Bronson was refused parole and moved from Wakefield prison to Long Lartin, a category 'A' prison, where he spent seven months in solitary confinement.

He claims his treatment at the prison breached Human Rights legislation and caused him to lose two stone in weight.

''My cell was a disgrace," he said. "I had a dirty cell, disgusting toilet and no access to cleaning facilities. I lost my TV, my art materials and I had basic food and no wooden furniture

''I had done nothing wrong and was given no explanation for these conditions. It is termed a progressive move but I don't agree and feel my conditions were inhumane.

''I am now bringing a court action against the Governor of Long Lartin to explain why I had to suffer this.''

Harriett Mather, Bronson's lawyer, described him as ''amenable, polite and respectful'' and said she would be lodging an application on human rights grounds at Milton Keynes County Court before Christmas.

''There will be a full hearing and the judge will agree or disagree with our application," she said. ''If he disagrees then Mr Bronson is determined to go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

''There could be compensation, but it's not a question of money, it is a matter of principle.

''We want to highlight what goes on behind closed doors and to make people aware of what can happen in prisons.''

Bronson made the claims after being moved from Long Lartin to HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Sporting his trademark handlebar moustache, bald head and shades Bronson, whose real name is Michael Peterson, keeps fit by doing 2,000 press ups in his cell twice a day.

Following his last attack in 2000 he took a prison teacher hostage and dragged him around Hull jail on a rope. As a result of the incident, he received a life sentence.