Charles Bronson was seen for the first time in more than a decade this week when he left his trial for attacking a prison governor
Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson claimed British justice was the ‘best in the world’ as he was cleared of attempting to seriously harm a prison governor after defending himself in court.
The 66-year-old allegedly lunged at governor Mark Docherty in January after bosses at HMP Wakefield refused to release snaps of his jail wedding to Paula Williamson, 37.
Bronson landed on top of Mr Docherty and allegedly screamed ‘I will bite your f***ing nose off and gouge your eyes out’.
Appearing via video link from HMP Frankland, the inmate danced and waved his arms with delight after he was cleared.
Judge Tom Bayliss QC said to the defendant: ‘You seem pleased with that, Mr Salvador. You are discharged from this.’
Before the link to the court was cut, Bronson smiled and replied: ‘British justice, best in the world. Thank you.’
His supporters in the public gallery welcomed the jury’s decision and laughed.
Speaking earlier in the trial, Bronson told a jury it was simply a ‘figure of speech’ when he threatened to bite his prison governor’s nose off in a row over his estranged wife.
Speaking at Leeds Crown Court, Bronson said he intended to give Docherty ‘a gentle bear hug’ and whisper in his ear but fell over.
The defendant admitted he blamed the governor at Wakefield’s segregation unit after he was told photographs of his wedding would not be allowed until he was released from jail.
Bronson, wearing a green and yellow jumpsuit, claimed he was supposed to whisper ‘where’s my wife’s photos?’ as part of a ‘wake-up call’ to the governor not to play games with his family.
Bronson was cleared by the jury of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent after just three hours deliberation today.
Speaking on the anniversary of his wedding to a TV actress, Bronson, now known as Charles Salvador, said ‘for once in my life I really am an innocent man’.
Giving evidence yesterday, Bronson told a court he’s had six fights as an unlicenced prizefighter outside of prison including against five men and even a rottweiler dog.
But he told jurors at Leeds Crown Court that prison staff had ‘over-reacted’ and he only intended to grab hold of the governor in a gentle bear hug.
He said: ‘When I went into that room there was nothing in my mind whatsoever to attack the governor.
‘I have been a very nasty man in my time. What I was going to do was grab him in a bear hug, a gentle one not a hard one.
Prison governor Mark Docherty (left, pictured today) suffered minor injuries before Bronson (right, pictured yesterday) allegedly attempted to bite his face
‘Unfortunately, after being who I am staff, prison officers over-reacted and I can understand why.
‘I never injured him or intended to injure him, it was more of a wake-up call for him, a reality check.
‘He might be the governor but I have always said do whatever you want to me but please don’t mess around with my family.’
Bronson labelled the foul-mouthed language – which can be heard on bodycam footage filmed by a prison officer following the melee – as ‘nasty’.
Bronson married Paula Williamson in 2017
But he explained as he came from the criminal fraternity in the south the threat that he would ‘bite your f***ing nose off’ was a figure of speech.
‘When I got chance to see that video it upset me watching that and I’m glad my mother has never seen it,’ he added.
‘There was a lot of nastiness in that video from myself that I cannot really justify.
‘What you saw in that video is horrible, it’s not nice, it’s not clever, it’s really quite disturbing but that’s been my life for a long, long time.’
Bronson had planned to call three witnesses including his soon-to-be ex-wife, top prison brass Richard Vince and fellow inmate Robert Maudsley.
‘Members of the jury, I’m here, facing the biggest farce probably in prison history,’ he added.
‘I was going to call three witnesses but I decided not to call any of them.
‘The first witness was going to be my wife, you have heard about the 22 wedding photos. It was her first wedding, we were both in love, I was proud, she was proud.
‘We were refused the 22 wedding photos after it was agreed in a contract that she could have the photos, they went against their word.
The trial is the first time Bronson has been seen in public since he launched an appeal in 2004
‘When a lady gets married, that’s the biggest day of her life, apart from the wedding photos it was a fantastic day and the prison did me proud.
‘My wife is now in a clinic, a rehab clinic. She took an overdose and almost died. It would be very cruel for me to call her today.
‘The divorce is in the process so I have lost a beautiful, loving wife over all of this nonsense.’
Bronson earlier had a courtroom in fits of laughter during the morning session after saying a judge was ‘a man of the world’.
Prison officer Simon Foster was giving evidence when he winced at saying f***ing in court only for Judge Tom Bayliss QC to encourage him to say the word out in full.
A court sketch of Bronson (centre) listening as Mr Docherty gives evidence at Leeds Crown Court today
Plans of the adjudication room drawn by prison officer Steven Coomber were shown in court, only for Bronson to respond when given the sheet of paper: ‘He is not much of an artist’.
Jurors previously heard Bronson, who was responding to suggestions he would have bitten the governor’s nose off, said: ‘I can assure you I have never bitten anyone’s nose off in my life. Plus, I’m a vegetarian.’
He also demonstrated to jurors the speed at which he can throw blows by punching his own hands in the dock.
Bronson, a serving prisoner at HMP Frankland in County Durham, said: ‘In three seconds, I could hit a man ten times in the face.’
Addressing Mr Docherty, he said: ‘If I had used both hands, I would have hit you 20 times in the face. Do you accept that?’
Supporters of Bronson, including his brother Rod Harrison (left) attended court yesterday
The court heard how Mr Docherty suffered swelling to the neck, scratches to the face and whiplash following the alleged attack.
Admitting he was struggling not to laugh at the suggestion the governor suffered whiplash, Bronson said: ‘I don’t think that in a month of Sundays you had whiplash.’
Bronson was last pictured in this image from inside Wakefield prison in June 2004
Jurors were told how, prior to his wedding to the actress Paula Williamson at the prison in November 2017, Bronson had been told he and his new wife would be given 22 wedding photographs, all taken by prison staff.
But Mr Docherty said staff decided not to give the pictures to Ms Williamson after hearing that among the guests was a member of the ‘paparazzi’ who had previously had their press licence taken away.
There was also a prankster who entered the pitch at Stoke City Football Club with the words ‘Free Charles Bronson’ written on the back of his prisoner-style outfit.
Jurors were told the attack took place at a monthly welfare and engagement meeting chaired by Mr Docherty.
The inmate was said to have been whistling the tune from The Great Escape moments before he attacked Wakefield Prison governor Mr Docherty.
Once Mr Docherty was on the floor, Bronson shouted: ‘You can f*** with me but you can never f*** with my mother’, a court heard.
The trial continues.