On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we visit a fan-requested topic, the most violent prisoner in Britain: Charles Bronson. Born as Michael Gordon Peterson, Bronson got in trouble with the law young and often. In fact, he’s spent over 34 years in prison (30 of those in solitary confinement), spending only 131 days as a free man since his initial incarceration. So what are his crimes? Anarchy and Violence.

He was first sent to prison on a smash and grab when he was only 22, and from there, his sentence just got longer and longer. He’d assault other prisoners—more time added. He’d assault guards—more time added. He’d take off all his clothes and stage a one man prison riot—more time added. He was so violent and hard to deal with, each prison kept shipping him off to other prisons to make him someone else’s problem, but then eventually, he’d get transferred back around again. He spent some time in mental institutions for being insanely violent, but eventually, they sent him back to the prisons for being insanely violent.

So, what are some of Charles Bronson’s biggest hits? Well, he kidnapped a librarian in his cell and threatened to break his neck. The man was allowed to leave because of a situation involving farting. He took wardens hostage, as you do, and he famously would break onto prison roofs and destroy shingles, pipes, and air conditioners for days on end. Oh, and there was also that time he took Iraqi hijackers hostage and forced them to tickle his feet and call him “General.”

And that’s barely getting started on this guy. Now, he’s changed his name from Charles Bronson to Charles Salvador (in honor of Salvador Dali) and spends his time doing art and cartoons and publishing books. This one is full of wild stories of a truly crazed criminal. Good times.

Some examples of his artwork: https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/1362359/the-dark-and-terrifying-art-of-britains-most-violent-prisoner-charles-bronson/