Bronson appeals for his freedom

Charles Bronson, the man labelled Britain's most violent prisoner, has made a dramatic appeal to judges to allow him to start a life outside prison after 30 years behind bars.

Shaven-headed and bearded Bronson stood up in the dock of one of the Old Bailey's historic courtrooms and told three Court of Appeal judges: "I am ready to go home. I have had enough. Thank you your lordships."

He made his plea, surrounded by prison officers, during his appeal against his conviction for taking a teacher hostage during a siege at Hull prison in 1999.

Bronson has now served about 30 years in prison - with only two short periods of freedom totalling 55 days. At the time of the siege he had spent 22 years of his prison life in solitary confinement.

Bronson, now 51, was jailed for life at Luton Crown Court in February 2000 after being found guilty of the false imprisonment of teacher Phil Danielson for 44 hours during the siege.

Lord Justice Rose, sitting with Mr Justice Crane and Mr Justice Hunt, will give their ruling on Friday morning.

Even if he wins his appeal against conviction, it is understood Bronson will not be released until next year because of a sentence imposed for an unrelated offence.

If the judges reject the conviction appeal, they will go on to rule on Bronson's appeal against the imposition of a life sentence for the hostage offence.

In an unusual move the court allowed Bronson, who was wearing a black T-shirt and tracksuit trousers, to address them personally after hearing submissions from his QC David Whitehouse.

Watched by supporters in the packed public gallery: "Your lordships, first of all I would just like to say I am very sorry for what I have done to the teacher, but I am not the same person as I was then as I am now. I have changed drastically."

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