|
CHARLIE TAKES ON TORNADO SQUAD AGAIN
Daily Mirror
22nd
July 2011
Click on the story to bring up a
larger, more readable version:
By 6th July 2011 Charlie had been goaded enough. HMP
Wakefield had stopped him receiving art card or blank
postcards on which to create his art. The reason? As usual,
none was given ... they just did! I strongly suspect the
reason for the stoppage was the fact that we are selling his
art to raise money for his legal appeal PLUS the fact that
they seem to love winding him up.
One person even reported to me that they had sent a letter
to Charles with a few blank postcards and a stamped
addressed envelope and the prison returned the whole lot to
them without Charlie getting a chance to read the letter. To
add insult to injury they returned them in the person's
own SAE!
If you are new to the Charles Bronson saga then please take
a wander through the site to find out just how many times
the prison has deliberately pushed his buttons. Charlie
doesn't explode for no reason! He reacts when he is
poked for no apparent reason, just as many of us would do!
So, at around 2 pm on the 6th Charlie stripped off in the
gym cage, covered himself liberally in Lurpack and created a
fuss. Nothing was damaged, it's just Charlie's way to let
off steam when he's had enough of the prison's shenanigans.
After four or or five hours of nothing much happening (not
exactly a five hour battle, was it?) the Tornado Squad
turned up. They simply Pava sprayed him again and put him in
the block. No one was hurt ... except Charlie, but he had
made his point and the prison governor once again allowed
him to be sent blank postcards at least.
Now, you have to ask yourself: Why did the prison
stop the cards in the first place if they started to allow
them again after such a minor incident? Wasn't it a bit
pointless?
On the contrary. They got Charlie to perform and managed to
get a "CRAZED CHARLIE" headline into a national newspaper
just in case you, the public, were starting to forget just
how "crazy" and "dangerous" our man is AND to discredit him
further for any parol or court appeal he may be about to
launch.
Now, I have respect for Jeremy Armstrong as a journalist
when it comes to CB, even if the Mirror's editorial people
change a few of his words. For instance, in the very first
paragraph JA's words "clash with guards" were changed to "battled
nine jail guards!" But, on the whole (barring the
sensationalist headline that Jeremy has no control over) the
piece shows a shift in attitude by the press by giving the
reasons for his behaviour. The paper even used a far less
"dangerous" looking photo of Charlie for the article.
So here, for the sake of balance and our enlightenment, is
Jeremy's original article before it was cut down to fit the
space:
THE MAN dubbed Britain's most dangerous inmate
had a FIVE HOUR clash with NINE prison guards in the
gym of his high security jail.
Charlie Bronson, 58, refused a bid to appeal against
his extended life term, is said to have been
protesting about his conditions and a move to stop
him posting cards to supporters which carry his art
work.
The former armed robber has developed a lucrative
side line from his extraordinary drawings, many of
which he sells for charity.
But authorities at Wakefield jail, West Yorks.,
apparently suspected he was raising funds for his
freedom campaign.
When he was prevented from selling them, he staged
another protest in the prison's gym area.
The Mirror told how a naked Bronson smothered
himself in butter in his last protest.
Then he was faced with TEN officers who dragged him
back to his cell and solitary confinement. This time
it is understood nine officers were required to
bring Bronson into line.
They used pepper spray to restrain him before the
angry stand off was finally brought to an end.It had
lasted just short of five hours.
An insider said: "He refused to go back into his
cell. He is being pushed to his limit at the moment
as he was refused a Parole Board hearing yet again
earlier this year.
"He feels strongly that he should no longer be in
prison, and the ban on his cards was a real kick in
the teeth.
"Charlie feels it is the only way he can make his
feelings known, and the guards who went in to get
him were fully armed and protected in the full
riot-style gear.
"They are so well covered it is very difficult to
cause them any injuries, but it may have been
bruising for Charlie."
Bronson has spent the vast majority of his 37 years
behind bars in solitary confinement, doing 2,500
press ups a day to keep fit. It has cost more than a
million pounds to keep him in jail.
His campaign to highlight his prolonged
incarceration has seen him take a string of hostages
in 10 jail sieges.
He has been involved in a series of attacks on
staff, and caused a further £500,000 of damage in
rooftop protests, which led to him being dubbed
Britain's most violent prisoner.
But his supporters say he has not been involved in
any serious incidents since the kidnap of prison
teacher Phil Danielson inside Hull Prison in 1999.
Bronson's spokesman Mal Vango said: "They stopped
Charlie receiving any cards to do the art, and also
receiving post cards, which we are selling art to
cover fees for his legal appeal.
"Charlie defended himself when he was found guilty
of kidnap, and the court should not have allowed
that. He is appealing against that, but has been
denied legal aid so he has to raise money.
"That is why prison have stopped him receiving art
material, and card to do his art on. They push and
push him, he controls himself much better than he
did but sometimes it just gets too much."
He was ordered to serve at least three years of a
life term in 2000.
Bronson, whose real name is Michael Peterson, has
now served eight years beyond that term. Refused to
chance to meet with the Parole Board earlier this
year, he has also been refused legal aid.
In April, on his web site, he wrote: "The parole
hearing was a serious blow; every two years they
knock me back. In fact it's soul destroying.
"My next parole review I'll be 61 years old. It's
all really pointless and vindictive."
The Prison Service confirmed an "act of
indiscipline" in a statement.
Their spokesperson said: "A prisoner from HMP
Wakefield was involved at 2:10 pm on Wednesday July
6.
"Staff intervened and resolved the incident at 6:50
pm.
"No injuries were sustained." |
|
