Charles Bronson cleared of trying to seriously harm prison governor

Charles Bronson at Leeds Crown Court Credit: Elizabeth Cook/PA

Notorious prisoner Charles Bronson has been cleared of attempting to seriously harm a prison governor.

Bronson, 66, was said to have lunged at Mark Docherty as he entered a room for a welfare meeting at HMP Wakefield on January 25.

He landed on top of Mr Docherty and screamed "I will bite your f***ing nose off and gouge your eyes out", before prison officers intervened and restrained him.

Representing himself at Leeds Crown Court, Bronson claimed he had intended to give Mr Docherty a "gentle bear hug" and whisper in his ear, but tripped, or was tripped by someone, and fell.

Paula Williamson with a Charles Bronson lookalike. Credit: Victoria Jones/PA

The defendant admitted he partly blamed the governor at Wakefield’s segregation unit after he was told photographs of his prison wedding to actress Paula Williamson two months earlier would no longer be allowed to leave the jail until his release.

Bronson said he intended to whisper "where’s my wife’s photos?" in what he described as a "wake-up call" to the governor to not mess with his family.

Jurors found Bronson not guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, after deliberating for just short of three hours on Thursday.

The 66-year-old inmate, born Michael Peterson, is serving a life sentence for robbery and kidnap and has earned public notoriety with a history of violence inside and outside jail.