Charles Bronson's first wife has shared his plans for life on the outside as he bids for freedom.
Bronson was first locked up in Walton Jail for armed robbery in 1974 and has since earned the nickname of Britain's most notorious prisoner. The 70-year-old, who previously lived in Ellesmere Port, has spent almost 50 years behind bars and is hoping a parole hearing on March 6 next week will lead to his release.
Bronson, who now goes by the name of Charles Salvador, is currently serving a life sentence for taking prison art teacher Phil Danielson hostage at HMP Hull after he criticised one of his drawings.
READ MORE: Who is Charles Bronson and why has he spent almost 50 years behind bars?
Bronson's ex-wife Irene Dunroe from Barnston, Wirral, believes it's during his time inside that he has grown violent "in retaliation" to how he's been treated. She claims Bronson, who she still refers to by his birth name Michael (Mick) Peterson, is now a changed man and he just wants to "live out his last few years" out of prison.
Irene told the ECHO: "I was with him before he turned into Charles Bronson, and I was with him when he turned into Charles Bronson when he started getting more and more time going on [to his sentence].
"The prisons he's been in you get attacked all the time. He used to say 'Irene what am I going to do, sit there and let them attack me?
"He's been in a little, dark cell which is why he wears dark, round glasses because he's been in the dark for so long. He's been fed through a little flap in the door.
"He just wants to get out of prison and he deserves to be out of prison. He's treated a lot better now.
"He's not treated like an animal now or kept in solitary confinement like he was for about 40 years. If he was a murderer he'd be out by now."
Irene and Bronson first met at the age of 19 and went on to get married and have a son, Michael, together. The couple's marriage came just two years before Bronson was jailed for the first time in 1974 - but it wasn't until he was sentenced in court that Irene said she found out about the crimes he had committed.
While serving time in Walton Prison, Bronson attacked a fellow prisoner with a glass jug and had an extra nine months added to his sentence for unlawful wounding. His violent behaviour continued and during 1975 to 1977 he was moved around prisons, spending the majority of time in isolation.
Irene has remarried twice since then and is now back in regular contact with Bronson, who she speaks to over the phone and by sending letters to his cell at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes.
During his time inside, Bronson has taken hostages in ten prison sieges, attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused £500,000 in damage in rooftop protests. Irene said Bronson has since turned his attention to his artwork, some of which has been sold and the proceeds donated to charity.
A public parole hearing is due to take place next week for Bronson, where a panel will decide if he is fit for release.
If he is successful in his bid for parole, Irene said Bronson plans to get two dogs and call them Ronnie and Reggie after the Kray twins who he befriended during his time at HMP Parkhurst.
Irene said: "He just wants to live out his last few years. He just wants to do his art.
"He wants to feel the sun on his face, walk along the sea and feel the sand on his toes. He wants to see the seagulls and listen to the birds.
"As soon as he comes out he's already made arrangements to get the biggest, greasy breakfast you can imagine. He's been in there for god knows - 47 years, 48 years now. Mike [his son] - he's 50 this year. Mike needs his dad."
Irene decided to share her side of the story with the release of her book ''The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth' last summer.
Irene said: "My book is about life on the other side of the coin - what happens to wives and family when someone goes into prison like that and their personality turns into Charles Bronson.
"There's lots of books about gangsters but not about women who are left behind."
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