Charles Bronson (prisoner) - Early Life

Early Life

Bronson was one of three sons of Eira and Joe Peterson, who would later run the Conservative club in Aberystwyth. His uncle and aunt were mayor and mayoress of the town in the 1960s and 1970s. His aunt, Eileen Parry, is quoted as saying, "As a boy he was a lovely lad. He was obviously bright and always good with children. He was gentle and mild-mannered, never a bully – he would defend the weak."

He lived in Luton from the age of four, but when he was a teenager, Bronson moved with his family to Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, where he started getting into trouble. By the age of 13 he was part of a gang of four shoplifters, and was reprimanded in juvenile court after he was caught stealing. He enjoyed fighting from an early age, and often played truant from school. Bronson later returned to Luton, which is often referred to as his hometown. His first job was at Tesco, which lasted two weeks before he was dismissed for attacking his manager. He passed through a number of jobs, working as a hod carrier and in a number of factories. He faced prison for the first time at Risley, serving time on remand for criminal damage after he smashed some parked cars following an argument with his girlfriend's father; following his trial he was fined and given probation. He then worked as a furniture remover, whilst regularly fighting on his nights out. After getting involved in petty crime, he got into serious trouble for the first time after crashing a stolen lorry into a car. He ran from the scene all of 90 miles to his parents home, where he was apprehended. The driver of the car survived the collision and so Bronson again got off lightly, receiving yet more fines and probation. After his trial he again returned to petty crimes and menial labour. In 1972 he married Irene Kelsey, with whom he had a son, Michael Jonathan, later the same year. At the age of 19 he was convicted for his part in a smash and grab raid, but was given one last chance by the judge, who gave him a suspended sentence.