 The former bare-knuckle fighter has committed violent crimes in prison |
The brother of notorious criminal Charles Bronson has been banned from visiting him by prison officials. Mark Peterson, from Aberystwyth in mid Wales, said he was called by a prison official at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes to tell him he was banned. Mr Bronson's 49-year-old younger brother said: "They said I've been banned because of media involvement." A prison service spokesman said prison governors had the discretion to withdraw visitor status. 'Honest' stories Bronson, 58, was jailed for armed robbery in 1974. He has committed a string of crimes while in jail, including hostage-taking and rooftop protests and has spent much of his time in jail in solitary confinement. Bronson's brother said he was "disgusted, devastated and dumb-struck" by the move. Mr Peterson, who said he used to visit him every three weeks, said he had "given a lot of stories to a lot of the national and some of the local newspapers". "A lot of them are about the things my brother does for charity, like donating his art to worthy causes." He said he had given his honest opinion about his brother's treatment. "What's ever happened to freedom of speech?" he added. He said he had been intending to visit his brother on Saturday at the prison in Buckinghamshire, but now did not know when he would see him again. "They're treating him like an animal," he said. A prison service spokesperson said: "In accordance with the approved visitors scheme for category A prisoners, prison governors have the discretion to withdraw the approved visitors status from anyone for whom it is no longer considered appropriate." Mr Peterson said he was awaiting a letter from the Prison Service about the decision. .jpg) Charles Bronson's artwork was displayed on the Tube at Angel station |
He said he intended to appeal after he had received the letter. A poster of an artwork by Bronson, which depicts a head with three faces poking out of a straitjacket, went on display at Angel station in north London on Monday. The National Victims' Association said it was "depressed" the work was put up. On Wednesday, the poster was removed. London Underground said it did not order its removal, and police said a theft had been reported. Benjamin Moore, from Art Below, which pays a company called CBS to display art on the Tube, said he was "disappointed" it had been removed. Bronson, born Michael Peterson in Luton, Bedfordshire, changed his name in the 1980s while he was a bare-knuckle fighter.
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What's ever happened to freedom of speech?
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