Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson has fallen for a former model after they struck up a relationship through letters and video calls.
The jailbird – who has spent more than 45 years behind bars – was even allowed a visit from Gemma Fernandez after prison Covid restrictions eased. Now she is campaigning for his release.
Bronson, 69, is considered Britain’s most violent criminal. He has been in and out of jail all his life and is a high-risk inmate at HMP Woodhill, Bucks.
The lag is fighting to have a parole hearing held in public.
Gemma, who claims she has posed for FHM magazine, says she started writing to him after watching Tom Hardy play him in 2008 movie Bronson.
A prison source confirmed: “They’re very close. She had her first visit in December. They posed for pictures and everything.”
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The model, in her 30s, told a true crime YouTube channel that Bronson – whose crimes include armed robbery and attacks on other inmates– “has a big heart”.
She said: “He’s a reformed character. He cares about people. He’s such a nice bloke.
“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’.”
Gemma, behind a petition website called Free Charlie Official , says they have exchanged letters and enjoyed video calls, called “purple visits”.
She revealed she was vetted by police before her visit to his secure unit.
“It was his first visit in two years, it was a big, big day,” she said.
“It was lovely to see him. I gave him a massive hug. He hasn’t had a hug in two years, so it was really, really nice. He was all excited, he took my jacket off, he’s a gentleman.
“He was supposed to sit in a chair six feet away but apparently he walked into the room before I got there and said, ‘no way, I’m not having that’ and dragged a chair from across the room. It was amazing. I thought it was quite a comfortable, cosy setting.”
Gemma’s online profile describes her as an actor and presenter and says she posed for Maxim and FHM in shoots across the UK and Europe.
Her friendship with Bronson – now calling himself Charles Salvador – comes just four years after he married former soap actress Paula Williamson, 37, inside Wakefield Prison, West Yorks.
But they later divorced and in July 2019 she was found dead, with reports claiming her body was found “on top of a bed of cocaine and tablets” by her new boyfriend.
Gemma says she speaks to Bronson, who was born Michael Gordon Peterson, most days and reads him messages of support from across the globe so he “knows he’s not forgotten about”.
She says she has been impressed by the convict’s art and poetry.
“His talents are endless really. He’s forever creating and he’s hilarious at the same time,” said Gemma.
“Some of his stuff is very deep and hard hitting too.”
She said it was “disgraceful” Bronson remains in jail while child killer Colin Pitchfork has been freed.
“He’s never murdered anyone and has served his time and more. We just need to get him home."
Gemma's interview was carried out by Steve Wraith on his YouTube channel.
