Notorious Charles Bronson has penned an extraordinary letter from behind bars - complaining he is Britain’s Number 1 ‘forgotten prisoner.’
Known as the UK’s most violent lag, the 62-year-old claims his human rights are being breached by his continuing jailing in HMP Wakefield, West Yorks.
Bronson, now known as Charles Salvador, is serving a life sentence for robbery and kidnap, but says he is 13 years over his tariff for possible release.
The hard man, known for attacking people in jail, has spent 40 years behind bars - 36 years of that in solitary confinement.
He has enjoyed just four months and nine days out of prison since being first convicted in 1974.
But Bronson has now raged he shouldn’t be caged in a solitary unit, or in a Category A jail.
He wrote: “I am one of the forgotten IPP (indeterminate sentence for public protection) prisoners, left behind after IPP was deemed unlawful in 2012.
“Everyone in jail, are allowed certain rights. Especially progress. How can I ever progress whilst I am on CAT A?
“I was sentenced to life with a tariff of three years. I am 13 years over that tariff.
“I have spent decades, unlawfully held in solitary. I have unlawfully been denied progress. Even the Kray twins were de-categorised to CAT B after 15 years. I have been on it 40 years, this alone stops my progress.
“CAT A prisoners are deemed a danger to the state and a danger to the public. My crimes outside, are actually very low grade, they do not warrant or justify a CAT A status.
“I am constantly denied my basic human rights...no form of rehabilitation whatsoever.”
Close friend Rod Harrison says he speaks to Bronson twice a week on the phone after meeting the criminal through his art exhibition charities.
He told the Mirror: “Forty-two years in jail is a long while form a crime that attracts a seven year sentence.”
In 1996, Bronson took a lawyer hostage, and three years later took a civilian education worker prisoner during a 40-hour siege.
In 2013, he was moved to HMP Woodhill, but the following year, repeatedly hit governor Alan Parkins several times on the head - receiving an extra two years to add to his life sentence.
The same summer, he attacked 12 prison guards after hearing that Arsenal, who he hates, had won the FA Cup, covering himself in Lurpak cutter to stop them grabbing hold of him.
Known as a ‘loose cannon’ when younger in prison for all of his violent outbursts, Bronson has been moved more than 150 times between prisons and sections.
During his time in jail, he has used art to consume his time.
In recent years he has sold some of his paintings for up to £1,000 to galleries across London.
This summer, he wrote to Alton Towers crash victim Leah Washington, drawing a smiling dragon with the words: “It’s nice to be nice.”
Then he sent the teen, whose leg was amputated, another letter, which featured a drawing of a cat stood upright on its hind legs clutching flowers.
It is stood next to a sign which reads: “Leah all very proud of you… stay focused.”
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