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Charles Bronson says that he is acting as a peacemaker behind bars — ordering young prisoners to put down knives and drugs.
The long-serving inmate has a message for ‘young cons’ in an audio clip where he refers to their use of the synthetic ‘zombie drug’ spice.
The recording emerged as his supporters — including son Michael Jonathan Peterson — continue to campaign for his release.
Bronson, who has changed his surname to Salvador, has spent 51 years in prison after first being jailed for armed robbery, before having his term repeatedly extended for attacks on prison staff and inmates.
He has taken 11 people hostage, with the offences behind bars helping to make him one of the UK’s longest-serving prisoners.
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The former bare-knuckle fighter, who is being held at HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire, is preparing for a ninth parole hearing in October.
Michael dressed up as his dad as supporters gathered in Liverpool on Saturday — and the pair spoke to each other on the phone during the event.
In the clip, his gravelly voice can be heard saying: ‘Doing a life sentence, never murdered, never raped and none of my crimes in the outside world were really that bad. It’s the crimes inside that’s kept me locked up.
‘Young cons oi!’
‘I’m 73 this year, I spent 51 years in prison.
‘I have changed, everybody changes with age.
‘You become more relaxed, chilled, placid.
‘You learn to walk away from problems, you don’t cause problems.
‘In fact, I stop a lot of trouble.
‘Young cons oi! Put that knife down what’s the matter with ya. Oi, stop taking that f***** spice, it’s no good for ya.
‘Stay away from drugs get in the gym.
‘Keep fit, healthy, strong, fight for your dreams.’
Will Bronson be freed?
In September 2024, Bronson told Metro that ‘my soul is good’ and ‘I’ve got no regrets’ as he made the case for his release.
However, he seemed to have little faith in the judicial system this summer when he said he would ‘rather die than crawl’ as he explained why he will not be going in front of the Parole Board.
The self-taught artist said it was because of ‘what they’ve done to me these past 14 months.’ However, he said his legal team will be attending his ninth bid for freedom, to ‘fight for me.’
In the audio, the 72-year-old says: ‘My art is my gift of life.
‘I raised thousands of pounds for all sorts of charities.
‘Would I have done all that 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago?
What are zombie drugs?
Zombie drugs are powerful synthetic cannabinoid substances that earned the name from sending users into a state where they are conscious but unresponsive to the outside world.
Spice is a nickname for one of the highs, which have been widely used among homeless people and in prisons.
The substances were originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. However, they are more harmful and unpredictable. They may be powdered chemicals, dissolved and sprayed onto paper or dried plant material, according to NHS Inform.
‘Yes, I deserve to go out. I’m anti-crime, anti-violence, I’m just an artist wanting to get on with his life. My mother’s 95, she’s not well.
‘For her to see me get out of jail, have a cup of tea with her, a slice of apple pie, give her a hug, I can look after her.’
‘She’ll probably live another 10 years.’
Why is Charles Bronson in prison?
Bronson, from Luton, has spent 51 years in prison after first being jailed in 1974 at the age of 22 for armed robbery, before having his term repeatedly extended for attacks on prison staff and inmates.
He was given a discretionary life term with a minimum of four years after taking a jail education worker hostage for 44 hours at HMP Hull in 1999.
The inmate has taken 10 other people hostage.
He was the first prisoner to formally ask for a public hearing in front of the judicial Parole Board, and appeared in person via video link from high-security Woodhill at the last sitting in 2023.
Bronson delivered a series of one-liners, including that he has had ‘more porridge than Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ and, ‘I’m just a normal geezer wanting to get on with his life.’
He also expressed his frustration with the length of the hearing, saying ‘give the man a break’ during questioning of his offender manager.
Bronson has previously said that he is not attending the hearing because ‘I prefer to have no hope than being lied to’ and the process is ‘one big lie.’
The next hearing will be held in private after the board ruled that Bronson’s ‘notoriety’ might impact his future resettlement in the community.
The chair found that he ‘has an unusual personality and has achieved a good deal of notoriety, in which he appears to have revelled.’
However the board also found that Bronson’s worst years are behind him.
Both the Ministry of Justice and the Parole Board have previously declined to comment on Bronson’s comments from jail.
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