Charlie Bronson's letter, 1996.

I resigned in February 1996, and Charlie wrote this the same week.

I worked as a consultant psychiatrist, 1991-96, in C-Wing Special Unit in Parkhurst Prison, UK, intended for unstable violent ill-disciplined lifers – I worked on a model of the long term effects of child-trauma, seeking to persuade sufferers that their childhoods were now over. I crept in under the radar. As soon as official reports indicated I was working, moves were set about to remove me, first by harassment, which ceased when I identified this to my legal team, over the phone, as “constructive dismissal”. Then later by deflecting obvious candidates away from admission. I resigned in protest, with a letter setting out why in The Guardian. 

C-Wing at the time was well known, justifiably, as for those too violent for Broadway. Charlie, who I had pressed to be re-admitted, was the first to regret my departure – if only the prison service took note of what he said, either then, or indeed now.

TO: Dr Bob Johnson, Orchard Hospital, 189 Fairley Road, PO30 2EP Isle of Wight

FROM Bronson BT1314, Seg Full Sutton Prison York

4. 2. 96

Dr Bob Johnson

A sad day to see you go! But I must admit I admire your principles. It’s a rare sight to see a doctor stand up to this system!

I first hit C-wing 20 years ago, it’s always been a unit for guys with problems, and it’s basically worked. Even more so when you took over. You done more in five years than the rest done in 25 years ! (in fact 125 years).

Dr Cooper was a man who believed in “drug control” whereas you believed in humanity, then trust!

Your way obviously worked as you cut the violence. When I first hit C-unit, it was a violent struggle – stabbings, cuttings on a regular basis. In fact Brian Peak was murdered on there, and there were many hostage sieges

Your report says it all. “Not once was the alarm bell used in two years !!” That’s not just a remarkable achievement, it’s in fact a miracle.

No unit, wing or asylum could ever give such an outstanding report ! Your way worked!

And all you’ve got for it is contempt.

A kick in the face

Not just you – but every member of staff on there, teachers too, and let’s not forget the cons !

It could not have been a success without their cooperation.

My spells on C-wing over the years have not been quite as successful, but that was down to my own personal problems, nothing to do with yourself.

I know it will be a bad blow for many – who will now be lost and have nothing more than a hell existence, a solitary survival. And all for trying to help themselves to be normal people – it won’t surprise me if one or two may now be suicidal.

All will feel betrayed, and will feel bitter, some will return to violence as their last resort.

But you know better than anybody it’s a sign of the times to put us in cages and forget us completely.

Bob ! for me there has been nothing. I’ve worked at myself so hard, I wrote an award-winning book, I’ve even become a cartoonist. I’ve also found peace in my Islamic way of life. But in my last three years of multiple transfers, it’s gradually driven me to feel more persecuted. I was driven mad in the 1970s – and now experiencing the exact affects now.

“Lost”! Paranoid! Confused! Periods of depression! Violent thoughts. As much as I’ve tried, and put into changing my ways, the system seems destined to keep me isolated and on the move.

Recently I jumped on a doctor, I was overpowered, I’m now facing another court case, no doubt more years.

But nobody asks why Bronson takes hostages?

Well the answer is Bob “I’m a very fucked up guy”.

Desperate !

It’s the emptiness of never knowing when I will be moved! Or where to! It’s the desperation of life itself.

Never seeing other cons, never seeing a TV!

Having my family drift away – it’s irreversible damage. All the system has done up to now is make my problems manifest – cause the violence.

Take today ! I arrived here at full Sutton seg block on the 3rd of Jan, I was told I’m only here for 28 days! Now it’s 33 days ! ! So how do I tell my family to come and see me if I may move any hour?

How do I settle? I’m just locked up in a cell. I don’t take exercise, I don’t take showers, I may use two or three words in a day (if that) there is no stability, there is nobody to trust.

So my journey continues until I’m too far gone to even trust “good people”. I made my wishes “clear to you”(I needed to talk)

I was hoping for a return to C-unit – as I felt I was ready for another chance.

Lots of screws in various blocks also said it’s high time I came off of this movement.

You said, we will move every “3 months”. Well I move every few weeks.

All I can say is Bob! And I speak for all the guys in the system such as myself, guys who put their whole lot into your works

Your leaving as a great loss to us all.

I wish you well in your next project.

You earn our respect and trust.

Now we are back to square one

“Respect”

Charlie Bronson

4. 2. 96

PS Life is a bitch and then you’re born there is no end only a beginning !!