Charles Bronson, Notorious British Thug, Admits to Gambling in Prison

Posted on: March 7, 2023, 06:51h. 

Last updated on: March 7, 2023, 05:01h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

Charles Bronson – not the late actor of Hollywood fame, but the British criminal who has spent 50 of his 70 years behind bars – is up for parole. The hearing began this week, with the UK’s “most violent prisoner” admitting to the review board that he’s been making a killing on sports bets while locked up.

Charles Bronson
Authorities lead convicted criminal Charles Bronson out of a British courtroom. Bronson faces a parole hearing and admits he’s become a proficient gambler in prison. (Image: Pinterest)

During the hearing at HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire on Monday, Bronson admitted to regularly placing bets while behind bars. He’s won £1,500 ($1,803), according to his own estimates. The Parole Board will decide if Bronson should remain on Wednesday, March 8.

Bronson has called the establishment home for the last four years. His colorful and checkered past dates back to 1974, when he was imprisoned for armed robbery. Since then, he’s made a living out of living behind bars, continuously engaging in altercations that guaranteed an extension to his incarceration.

But Bronson now swears he’s anti-violence and a changed man. He’s gone by the alias Charles Salvador since 2014, inspired by his assumed life as an imprisoned artist. The new surname was inspired by Salvador Dali.

Bronson also wears sunglasses everywhere, reportedly because he’s spent so much time in solitary confinement that the light hurts his eyes.

Criminal Resume

Bronson is often referred to as one of the UK’s most notorious and longest-serving criminals. He was given a seven-year sentence in 1974 for armed robbery. He attacked an inmate while behind bars, leading to an additional nine-month sentence.

He was released in 1987 but landed back inside a year later after committing another robbery. He was again released in 1992 but returned to behind bars less than three months later, again arrested for a robbery-related charge. These charges were ultimately dismissed in February 1993, but Bronson was arrested 16 days later for conspiracy to rob and possessing a sawn-off shotgun. He was given an eight year sentence.

In 1996, Bronson took three inmates hostage in a cell. In 1999, Bronson took another person hostage– his art teacher Phil Danielson. Bronson held Danielson hostage for 44 hours after he criticized one of his paintings. Bronson received a life sentence for the crime.

In total, Bronson held 11 people hostage while in prison.

No Remorse

Bronson previously admitted to not having remorse for kidnapping the warden of one prison or three inmates at another. He said he shouldn’t have held Danielson hostage and, instead, just beat him up.

During his parole hearing,  Bronson reportedly stated, “there’s nothing better than wrapping a [warden] up like a Christmas turkey.”

On another occasion, he intentionally got into a fight after covering himself in butter and stripping naked.

 “It was f**king brilliant.” He reportedly said. “I love a rumble. What man doesn’t?”