Prison Hardman Bronson to Marry for Third Time

The Daily Mirror
by Jeremy Armstrong

26th January 2011

A full text of this article by Jeremy Armstrong was originally as follows:

PRISON hard man Charlie Bronson told yesterday of plans to marry the woman of his dreams behind bars.

It will be 58-year-old Bronson's THIRD marriage. But he has vowed th...e wedding will not take place until he is out of his maximum security 'cage' inside Wakefield jail, West Yorks.

Bronson, who is seeking Parole after spending his 28 th consecutive Christmas incarcerated, said: "I am going to marry the woman of my dreams.

"I'm keeping her identity a secret for now.

"We don't want or need the publicity and she is not that sort of a woman.

"She is a very private lady, so I hope you will all respect our wishes. The wedding will not take place while I'm in the cages or Max Secure units; not until I am being treated like a human being.

"Then you will find out who she is and how very blessed I am."

His first marriage was to Irene in 1970. They have a son Michael, who is in his 30s.

In 2001 he married Saira Rehman in a ceremony at Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes.

They had met four times after Rehman, a Muslim, began writing to him.

Bronson converted but later renounced his faith.

Only a plastic knife was used to cut the wedding cake. At the time Bronson said on his web site: "I am in love with an angel. She has sucked out my madness and filled me full of love."

But the marriage ended two years later amid claims Saira had been seen in public in "provocative" clothes.

Of his new bride-to-be, Bronson says: "I can say that she is tall, elegant, eyes like diamonds, teeth like pearls and a smile to die for. I consider myself a very lucky man, so it's third time marriage and third time lucky for me.

"Oh, and I will be married as Michael Peterson, NOT as Charles Bronson.

"Let's face facts: I'm in a coffin, so I'm extremely lucky to have met such a wonderful human being."

Bronson's description suggests his fiancee has visited him behind bars. But it is unclear if they have ever met.

He has a number of female admirers who contact him by letter, and leave messages on his web site. But he added: "I was very close to some other women and I respect their friendship, but I only have love for one. That's it. That's the way I am.

"If you loved or cared for me then please be happy for us and wish us well. I am a loyal husband-to-be, so I'm asking the women who write me "love letters" to stop. I don't need a harem. One woman's love is all I need."

Bronson has had just 121 days of freedom since his first conviction in 1974, and has now spent almost 37 years behind bars.

But his supporters say he has not been involved in violence since he kidnapped teacher Phil Danielson inside Hull prison in 1999, and his reformed behaviour and charity work support an early release.

Mal Vango, 55, who runs the Bronson web site, said: "He vowed he would never marry after the last time.

"But you can never say never.

"The wedding will be in a prison and there will be a very limited guest list.

"There are only three people who know the identity of his fiancee, Charlie, the lady in question and me.

"All I can tell you that she is not a member of Girls Aloud."

He told how Bronson announced his engagement in a phone call, singing 'Who's getting married in the morning?' down the line.

His bride-to-be declined to comment yesterday when approached by Mal.

web link: www.freebronson.co.uk.