Charles Bronson is 'living on his nerves' after being attacked in jail by convicted murderer, ex

Britain's most dangerous prisoner Charles Bronson is 'living on his nerves' after being attacked in jail by a convicted murderer, his ex-wife has revealed.

The 71-year-old prisoner hit Robert Donaldson with two hooks and two uppercuts when the sick killer tried to attack him on a wing of Category A HMP Woodhill last week.   

Donaldson, 48, was jailed in 2005 for murdering Paul Bourke, 38, weeks before gagging a deaf 100-year-old woman and beating up her 76-year-old son while they slept. He also slashed the throat of another inmate in a different prison in 2014.

A source exclusively told the MailOnline last week that Donaldson had angrily charged at Bronson with his fists raised after banging into him as he walked down a landing last week. 

Bronson's former wife, Irene Dunroe, who shares a son with the infamous prisoner, said she was 'gutted' to hear about the 'violent' incident. 

She said: 'I'm gutted as I'd love to see him out. As far as we're concerned, we're still living in that time he went away.

Irene Dunroe visited Charles Bronson, 70, in person at HMP Woodhill last week for the first time in five decades where the former lovebirds discussed their relationship

Bronson lost his latest bid for freedom when a Parole Board ruled he might not be able to control violent outbursts if he is released. Pictured: Bronson in jail back in 2004

Robert Donaldson, now 48, is understood to have been in a bust-up with Bronson last week

'I just want peace and mind for our son - his mum will be gutted about this too. I think it was in self-defence,' she told the Mirror.

'He suffers with PTSD and he's never known over the years who's going to come and jump on him.

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'When I went to visit him I reached out to touch him and you would have thought I'd burnt him the way he reacted - it was very upsetting. He's always kept well away from this man. 

'Because he's so much like he is, when this bloke bumped into him he's had to protect himself. He's living on his nerves anyway, just waiting for the next thing that's going to happen to him.'     

A source exclusively told the MailOnline last week that Donaldson had angrily charged at Bronson with his fists raised after banging into him as he walked down a landing last week.

They added: 'Charlie knows this man's history. Donaldson has attacked older people in the same age bracket as Charlie and has also slashed the throat of another inmate using a concealed weapon.

'Charlie obviously feared the worst and could not know if this nasty piece of work was holding a weapon so, to defend himself, he hit Donaldson.

'It was two hooks and two uppercuts. Charlie has been in this position many times before; he knows how to handle himself of course, but it is such a shame because he has been on his best behaviour for six years so now worries this will undo all his work.'

Bronson, who was first convicted in 1974 for armed robbery and now spends 23 hours a day in a cell, lost a parole board bid for freedom last March.

His next opportunity to make a case for his release will come early next year.

Bronson was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, and during his time inside he has taken 11 hostages in nine prison sieges and has attacked at least 20 prison officers

Ms Dunroe appeared on This Morning to defend Bronson and revealed how the man dubbed Britain's most violent prisoner is 'protective, kind and compassionate'.

The fight is under internal investigation but it is understood Bronson has been deprived of his enhanced prisoner status and various privileges including television use while the probe is ongoing.

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The source said Donaldson had not been punished. They said: 'Donaldson is now going around with a load of bandages on his head acting like the victim.

'The prison authorities will be going through the CCTV and statements from the officers.'

They said officers will 'understand' Bronson was 'not the antagonist', but added: 'He is so worried that he could be found guilty of assaulting Donaldson that all his hard work will be undone and his bid for freedom will be scuppered.'

The Ministry of Justice confirmed it was investigating an incident in the prison.

A spokesman said: 'We do not tolerate violence in prisons and anyone who breaks the rules will be punished. It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing.'

Bronson, who changed his named to Charles Salvador in 2014, was convicted of wounding while inside prison in 1975, 1978 and 1985.

He was released in 1987 but was back inside 69 days later after robbing a jewellers.

He was released again in 1992 but jailed again weeks later for intent to rob.

In 1994 he took prison deputy governor Aidan Wallace hostage, then three years later took two staff members and three inmates hostage in the same way.  

Bronson, who changed his last name to Salvador in 2014, is 'living on nerves', according to his ex-wife. Picture shows Bronson in 2001

Ms Dunroe (right) appears on Loose Women in 2018 alongside Bronson's third wife and ex-Coronation Street actress Paula Williamson (left) where the pair discussed their friendship

In 1999 he took art teacher Phil Danielson hostage for two days then in 2014 assaulted a prison governor for allegedly withholding his letters.

But he told his Parole Board hearing last year that in the past decade he has become a peace-loving artist and described himself as a 'retired prison activist.'

Donaldson was described as 'sub-human' after he shook deaf centenarian Annie Steinberg awake then gagged her and tried to rip her rings from her fingers.

He then went into her 76-year-old son Woolf's room and hit him over the head several times with a whisky bottle before taking a watch, a camera and £25 from the home in Stoke Newington, north London, almost 20 years ago.

Mrs Steinberg, who had been deaf since the age of 12 and came to Britain from Russia with her family when she was eight to escape anti-semitic pogroms, had received a birthday telegram from the Queen shortly before the attack.

While on remand for the robbery, Donaldson admitted stabbing Mr Bourke to death in Dalston, East London.

He was later convicted of attempted murder and threats to kill relating to the 2014 prison attacks.