Charles Bronson's mum knows when everything started to go wrong for her son

Charles Bronson's mum has revealed that she knows exactly when everything started to go wrong for her son - leading him to become the 'UK's most notorious long serving prisoner'.

Eira Peterson has outlined that her son's crime spree started from a very early age and what events prompted his descent into criminal activity.

In a brand-new new documentary on Channel 4, Bronson: Fit to be Freed?, Ms Peterson said that Bronson had been a 'perfect son to me always'.

The Channel 4 documentary has gathered footage recorded in 2017 of Bronson's mum going into great detail about her son's escapades and where things all took a turn for the worst.

"He’s been the perfect son to me always, [he's always] shown me respect and everything," she started.

Ms Peterson began speaking about her husband, Joe Peterson, who was proven to have quite a hot temper.

Channel 4

She revealed how her husband would get incredibly jealous, saying: "He’s hit a few [men] in the pubs I’ve had… Joe’s a boxer, and it was a bit like Sergeant Major."

When asked if Joe's aggression and strict temperament may have had an impact on her son, the mother recalled that the life of crime began when Bronson was just a child.

"I think he started stealing," she confessed.

"I remember going in the bedroom one day and he had pencils and little notebooks," she added, before explaining that Bronson did not have the funds to purchase such items at that age.

Ms Peterson told the interviewer that upon finding the stolen goods and her son just admitting to 'taking them', she 'took them' off him.

Elsewhere in the documentary, Bronson is seen on a video call with his son from his maximum security prison cell.

Channel 4

George Bamby, unknown to the prisoner, was secretly recording the footage to campaign for his father's release.

After 48 years in custody, 17 convictions, 11 hostage takings, nine rooftop protests and seven failed parole attempts - the documentary seeks to explore whether Bronson is fit to be released at all with his upcoming parole just around the corner.

His son - taking no time to cut to the chase - asks his father: "So, are you behaving yourself?"

"Listen," Bronson begins, "they're treating me well here. Few bits of silly nonsense here and then."

Bamby continues asking: "So, when the parole board eventually say to you, 'Why should we let you out?', how do they know you're not going to attack anyone?"

He adds: "Because, you haven't got the best past - be honest."

Channel 4

"I've got a horrible, nasty, vicious, violent past," Bronson admits before highlighting certain morals that he has been able to stick to even within a life of crime.

He explained to Bamby: "I've never killed anyone. I've never harmed a woman child, I've never harmed a child.

"I'm focussed, I'm settled, I can actually smell and taste freedom like I've never done in my life," he revealed.

Ms Peterson has revealed that her son has done his time and is, in fact, ready to be released from custody.

"I think he’s done his time and he should have been let out years ago," Ms Peterson said.

Bronson: Fit to be Free is now available to watch on Channel 4.