Prisoner Charles Bronson was seen for the first time in more than a decade today when he left his trial for attacking a prison govenor
Long-serving prisoner Charles Bronson has appeared in court accused of launching himself at a prison governor and trying to gouge the man’s eyes out.
The 65-year-old inmate is said to have been whistling the tune from the film The Great Escape moments before he attacked Wakefield Prison governor Mark Docherty.
He shouted ‘I will bite your f*****g nose off and gouge your eyes out’ following a row about guests not being able to take pictures during his wedding, a court heard today.
Bronson, who now goes by the name of Charles Salvador, is representing himself at his GBH trial at Leeds Crown Court and appeared before the jury in green and yellow Frankland Prison issue boiler suit and a pair of sunglasses today.
His trial got off to an unusual turn when he made derogatory comments about one of the jury when they were being selected.
When asked, three members of the jury panel had indicated they had links to the Prison Service.
The inmate wore a prison issue boiler suit as he represented himself at Leeds Crown Court
The trial is the first time Bronson has been seen in public since he launched an appeal in 2004
Judge Tom Bayliss QC asked Bronson whether he minded any of them sitting on the jury, to which Bronson replied: ‘That big fat one there. I will have him.’
The judge told him: ‘Insulting the jurors at this stage is not a good plan.’
Bronson continued: ‘The one who has been eating all the pies, I’ll have him,’ to which the juror involved laughed.
Judge Bayliss asked the jury to bear in mind and forgive Bronson’s ‘blunt manner of speaking’.
Bronson is charged with attempting to caused Mr Docherty grievous bodily harm with intent on 25 January this year.
Bronson married actress Paula Williamson in November 2017
Prosecutor Carl Fitch told the jury that Bronson had an arranged meeting with Mr Docherty to discuss ‘welfare within the prison system’ in the adjudication room at Wakefield Prison.
Bronson, who was not in handcuffs, was escorted from his cell by five prison officers at 2pm, to the adjudication room.
‘He began to dance on his toes and started to whistle the tune to the movie The Great Escape,’ said Mr Fitch.
As the door was opened Bronson rushed at the governor.
‘He wrapped his arms around Mr Docherty’s neck with such force that he fell off his chair,’ said Mr Fitch.
Bronson then shouted his threats and tried to reach his eyes, but Mr Docherty was able to move his face away until the inmate was overpowered by prison guards, the jury heard.
The court heard how, once Mr Docherty was on the floor, Bronson shouted: ‘You can f*** with me but you can never f*** with my mother.’
Supporters of Bronson, including his brother Rod Harrison (left) attended court today
The prosecutor said that, once the prisoner had been restrained, he told officers he had wanted to attack the governor since November 2017 after he ‘disrespected his wife’.
Jurors were told how Bronson had married the actress Paula Williamson during a ceremony at Wakefield Prison in November last year, with guests being told they were not allowed to bring in electronic devices or attempt to take pictures.
But prison staff were allowed to take photos which were to be distributed to Bronson and his new wife, the court heard.
Bronson’s trial heard he has spent more than 40 years in prison. He is pictured in his younger years
Mr Fitch said: ‘The prison would never allow these photographs to be taken outside the prison, as they feared that Ms Williamson would give them to the media if they did.
‘The Crown says that it is for that reason, among others, that Mr Salvador had a grudge against Mr Docherty, who he held responsible for the withholding of these photographs.’
Police interviewed Bronson about the attack and he claimed he had spent 40 years in prison and much of that time in solitary confinement and said he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder as a result.
The court session on Monday afternoon was briefly halted as members of the press were brought into the court room, at which point the prisoner said: ‘Shall we have a sing-song while we wait?’
Bronson denies the charge of attempting to cause GBH with intent.
The trial continues.
The alleged attack unfolded when Bronson was taken to see the governor of Wakefield Prison
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