THE former Ellesmere Port man dubbed Britain's toughest prisoner hopes to win his freedom by using a legal technicality.
Charlie Bronson, 50, whose real name is Michael Peterson, has spent most of his life behind bars.
He is currently serving a life sentence at Wakefield Prison in Yorkshire.
The man who boasts he is so tough he can bend iron bars around the back of his neck has won leave to appeal against his latest conviction for taking teacher Phil Danielson hostage during a siege at Hull Prison in January 1999.
His solicitor Richard Mallett says Bronson could be freed within a short period of time if the appeal is successful.
The Court of Appeal has granted him leave to appeal on the grounds the trial judge failed to allow a vital defence of 'duress of circumstances', leaving the jury no option but to convict Bronson.
Mr Mallett said before the hostage-taking, Bronson had been told he was going to be moved to solitary confinement at another prison.
He was said to have been terrified this would mean he would suffer serious injury or even be killed.
Bronson, who was born in Ellesmere Port, said a few years ago when he was released he would like to move back to the area and open a restaurant.
With just brief periods of freedom, Bronson has been in jail ever since he was given eight years for armed robbery in 1975.
Sentences have been handed down for a string of attacks and hostage incidents.
While in prison Bronson -who took the name in honour of the hardman movie hero -has in recent years become something of a celebrity.
Despite it being illegal, he has his own website.
He has also published his own books and videos featuring other violent criminals.
A couple of years ago he was given special permission to marry 33-year-old Saira Rehan in Woodhill Prison near Milton Keynes.
The Bengali dancer had written to Bronson after seeing his picture in a newspaper.
Later there were reports that he had converted to Islam.
