This Article is From Jun 18, 2014

Jailed Gangster Sells His Artworks to Pay for Mother's Holiday

Jailed Gangster Sells His Artworks to Pay for Mother's Holiday
London: The remorseful gangster dubbed "Britain's most violent prisoner" has sold some of his artwork to raise thousands of pounds to buy his mother a holiday.

Art works by Charles Bronson, 61, has made numerous paintings and sketches as well as writing poems and prose during almost 40 years in prison.

His surrealist pieces have been displayed in galleries across London.

The items were from the estate of gangster Ronnie Kray, whose second wife Kate put 150 lots up for auction, including paintings by her husband.

Bronson wrote to her explaining his mother had been upset by his reported attack on guards at Woodhill prison and he wanted to raise money to send her away.

The items were auctioned by of JP Humbert Auctioneers of Towcester.

A painting called Fantasy Impression, showing Bronson on a beach, sold for 1,000 pounds, while two items, Broadmoor Lunatic Asylum and Self Portrait, each sold for 950 pounds, the BBC reported.

A spokesman for the auction house, who would not say who bought the items, said that it had been "a good night's work" as only two items went unsold.

Bronson, whose real name is Michael Peterson, is serving a life sentence for robbery and kidnap and has earned public notoriety with a history of violence both inside and outside jail.

He is currently held at Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes.      

Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert said: "Charles Bronson recently had a 'rumble' with 12 prison guards.

"In a letter to Kate Kray, he states remorse at upsetting his mother and accordingly asked if some of his artwork could be included in the sale so as to generate funds to send his mother on holiday."
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