I’m Charles Bronson’s ex girlfriend – here’s why I think he SHOULD be freed after 48 years locked up
A FORMER model who dated Charles Bronson has stood by the hardened thug and revealed why the violent prisoner should be freed.
The 70-year-old lag, who has spent 48 years behind bars, is fighting for his release at a public parole hearing.
Gemma Fernandez, who posed for FHM magazine, sparked up a relationship with Bronson after being mesmerised by watching Tom Hardy play him in a 2008 film.
The relationship was built on letters and video calls before she visited him at HMP Woodhill in 2021.
From there, she campaigned for his release and set up the Free Charles Salvador petition.
But just months later, the inmate said he had “split” with Gemma, writing from prison: “I’m no longer with Gemma. We split. Romance and prison don’t mix. It’s two different worlds. I believe in freeing ones you love.”
Nevertheless, Fernandez has stuck by her man and was even pictured at the Royal Courts of Justice where she watched a live stream of his parole hearing.
Speaking outside court, Fernandez told the : “I’ve been advised not really to say anything.
“I just think he’s done really well and it’s time that he got out.
“I’m really supportive of him.”
In 2022, Fernandez told Steve Wraith’s true crime YouTube channel about the reasons for her infatuation.
She said: “Years ago I wanted to write to him after seeing the film and I never really did.
“But with the lockdown happening and everyone suffering with their mental health I thought, ‘He’s been banged up for 46 years, I need to write’.
“He’s a reformed character.
“He cares about people.
“He’s such a nice bloke.”
Despite their close bond, Bronson later wrote to his ex-wife, Irene Dunroe, telling her they had separated.
The public backing is another feather to the criminal’s cap, after a prison psychologist recommended he should be moved to a low security jail.
The independent psychologist told the panel at the Royal Courts Of Justice he would be less of a risk free than banged up.
She said: “He would be less of a risk in a community environment than a prison environment.
“I stand by that assessment.
“The perfect environment would be open conditions.”
She added: “It would have to be stepped and gradual.
“The ideal world would be in a CSE centre where he can have greater contact with other inmates.
“He is most at risk on a normal prison wing.”
If the request is approved, this will be the first time Bronson is somewhere other than a high security or category B facility.
During his long life behind bars, the man has been banged up in some of the country most notorious facilities, including HMP Parkhurst, Wakefield and Wormwood Scrubs as well as psychiatric hospitals like Broadmoor and Rampton.
FREEDOM BID
During Monday’s proceedings Bronson openly discussed his crimes and time behind bars – before trying to convince the court he is a changed man.
He held 11 people hostage across nine sieges with victims being governors, doctors and even his own solicitor.
Bronson admitted he had no remorse about taking a governor hostage, had won £1,500 placing football bets behind bars and loved fighting in jail house brawls.
Bronson said: “I was born to have a rumble, I love to have a rumble.
“But I’m 70 now. It can become embarrassing. You have to grow up sooner or later.”
He also described one fight, when he greased himself up with Lurpak spread while naked in a 2018, as the “rumble of my life, adding: “I f*****g loved it.”
But despite saying he was sick of his violent ways – the notorious lag could not resist boasting of his most shocking crimes.
Reflecting on his attacks on numerous prison governors and other workers, he told the hearing he “couldn’t stop taking hostages”.
He said: “I was a horrible person and I couldn’t stop taking hostages.
“I went through a phase, I couldn’t help taking hostages.
“I was battling against the system… it was my way of getting back.
“There’s nothing better than wrapping a governor up like a Christmas turkey.”
BANGED UP
The hearing was told the prisoner was first sent to jail in 1974 at the age of 21.
He spent time in solitary confinement and specialist units for his violent outbursts towards other inmates.
In 1974 he was jailed for seven years after being convicted of armed robbery – which was extended by nine months after he attacked a fellow prisoner with a glass jug.
He later attempted to strangle Gordon Robinson while at Broadmoor, before causing £250,000 worth of damage when he staged a three-day protest on a rooftop.
He was released in 1987 but soon returned a year later for intent to commit robbery.
After holding three men hostage in his cell, the Luton lad saw another seven years added to his sentence – although this was cut to five on appeal.
Following further incidents, he was finally given a life sentence after kidnapping prison teacher Phil Danielson in 1999, causing destruction to the prison.
On Monday, he said he was ready to go home because he’s eaten “more porridge than Goldilocks and her Three Bears”, adding: “I’m sick of it.”
And despite his years of violence, Bronson pleaded to be released as he said he just wants to “get on with his life”.
Known for being one of the UK’s longest serving prisoners, the hearing will access whether he presents a danger to others.
If the risks are deemed low, there is a possibility he could be released on a life licence.
But he has been turned down repeatedly since 2002 after being dubbed a threat to the public.
