A former model who struck up a relationship with notorious prisoner Charles Bronson supported him this week when he made his bid for parole after 48 years behind bars.
Gemma Fernandez was at the Royal Courts of Justice for both days of the public parole hearing, the Mirror reported. She has remained a loyal supporter of the 70-year-old once labelled Britain's most violent prisoner despite him having announced their "split".
Bronson, who now uses the name Charles Salvador and has twice married and divorced while in prison, fell for Gemma - who is in her 30s and has posed for FHM magazine - after starting a relationship through letters and video calls. They had their first face-to-face meeting after prison Covid restrictions eased, and Gemma set up the Free Charles Salvador petition.
Sources said Bronson was so besotted he wanted to marry his new love. But just months later he said he had “split” with Gemma.
He wrote to the first of his three ex-wives, Irene, who is the mother of his son, Mike, telling her of the breakup. He said: “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.”
At the court hearing, Gemma and other supporters, many wearing T-shirts with the slogan 'Free Charles Salvador', watched a live stream of the parole hearing. When approached, she said: “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." Confirming she still speaks to him, she added: “I’m really supportive of him.”
The final day of Bronson’s parole hearing will take place today (Friday, March 10) but is being held in private. He will learn his fate later this month.
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Last year, Gemma told a true crime podcast that she wrote to Bronson, who has spent only a few weeks out of jail since 1974, after watching Tom Hardy portray him in the 2008 film Bronson. He was originally sentenced to seven years for armed robbery but has committed a series of violent offences that added to his sentence.
Gemma said she spoke to him most days and read messages of support from across the globe so he “knows he’s not forgotten about”. She added: “He’s got a big heart, 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 did. But with the lockdown happening and everyone suffering with their mental health I thought, ‘He’s been banged up for 23 hours a day, for 46 years, I need to write to him.' The rest is history really.”
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