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Regional press news - this story published 09 October 2007

Notorious lifer Bronson gives exclusive interview to Hull paper

by holdthefrontpage staff

The Hull Daily Mail is claiming the first interview with top-security prisoner Charles Bronson from his cell at Wakefield high security prison.

He was interviewed by reporter Adam Lovell over the phone from his 14ft by 8ft solitary confinement cell.

The Mail was able to interview Bronson from the home of North Lincolnshire man Alan Rayment, who calls the prisoner his mentor and regularly talks to him on the phone.

In the interview, Bronson spoke of his regret over taking a teacher hostage at Hull Prison and his dream of being released back into society.

The interview can be heard here.

He sounded animated and deliberate during the 20-minute interview. It also becomes clear he still has hope of being released, even claiming he could be out within a year.

He has spent 28 of his 33 years behind bars in isolation and is due to have a parole hearing next year.

There have so far been more than 100 comments posted to the Mail’s website following the story, many critical of giving the prisoner publicity.

Adam described the interview from Alan Rayment's house.

He said: "After arriving at his family home at 5.30pm, we were expecting the call at 6.15pm.

”The first 15 minutes were spent checking and double-checking the recording equipment to make sure there would be no problems with capturing the first interview with one of Britain's most notorious criminals.

"Bronson took everyone by surprise in ringing half-an-hour early.

"The line was broken and hollow-sounding in the empty cell."

He said that Bronson, however, was not - and was surprisingly upbeat for a man locked away in isolation for 28 of the 33 years he has spent in jail. Bronson appeared to be jovial and entertaining.

Adam Lovell on video speaking to Bronson

The Mail ran a series of articles on the back of the interview.

'I was a proper nasty villain, but now I'm an artist and a poet' - Read in full the first interview with Charles Bronson

Bronson's victim: 'I thought I was going to die'

33 years in prison, 11 hostages taken - a profile of the man dubbed Britain's 'most dangerous prisoner'

In February 1999, the convicted armed robber and serial hostage taker burst into a classroom at Hull Prison and took teacher Phil Danielson hostage, for which he is now serving a life sentence. But he claimed to the Mail that he is a changed man and poses no threat to the public.

He revealed that he:

is sorry for taking Mr Danielson hostage.

accepts he deserved to be punished, but claimed he should never have been jailed for life.

is a reformed character and is "anti-crime".

dreams of living in the country in a home painted in all the colours of the rainbow, called "Rainbow Cottage."

He said: "Since the incident in Hull, I've been in no trouble at all. Let me explain, all the time me and Phil were together, I never harmed that man, not a hair on his head. I made him cups of tea.

"What I done, I should never have done. I put my hands up, I'm guilty of it. But, what you've got to understand is, I was under extreme provocation."

He said: "I'm anti-violent, anti-crime, anti-drugs, I'm anti-everything. There is no way in a million years I would commit another crime because there's no reason for me to.

"I'm an author. I've wrote ten books. I've got awards for my art. I'm an artist. I'm a poet. Does that sound like Britain's most dangerous man?"

Readers gave their reaction to the story online:

Anon, of Hull, wrote:
"He has done a crime so therefore he should serve the time. He is not being treated like an animal.
"Yes, he has written books and has not been in trouble these past years, but if he was released who is to say he will not commit a crime again?"

Mel, of Hull, wrote:
"He is not an animal nor does he deserve to be treated like one.
"He has admitted his faults, which goes a long way towards proving he has learned his lesson.
"He should be given a second chance."

Anon, of Hull, wrote:
"This man who took the name of a television hardman is a bully, evil, wicked human who I believe needs to be hung."

Larry, of Hull, wrote:
"What a lot of sensationalist nonsense and why does this story merit the front page?
"There does not seem to be a reason. Charles Bronson is a violent man who has served time in solitary confinement due to his attacks on prison staff and fellow inmates and, since he was jailed for robbery in 1974, has repeatedly had his sentence extended.
"He says "sorry", so what?
"This man is inhuman and should never be released."

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