A talented sketch artist has formed an unlikely bond with one of Britain’s most notorious prisoners and has invited him to Gravesend for a cuppa when he is finally released.

Jay Pritchard has revealed that Charles Bronson is among his growing fanbase after correspondence with the jailbird stretching back two years.

Mr Pritchard, of Marling Way, Gravesend, has written and sent sketches to the man dubbed "Britain’s most violent prisoner" after reading about his life behind bars.

Bronson, now known as Charles Salvador, has kept in touch with the 36-year-old, describing him as a “genius”.

One letter from the 62-year-old, a keen artist himself, sent in response to a sketch of the Kray twins, even stated he would keep the artwork in his cell.

The two men have been pen pals since Mr Pritchard read a book about the infamous hardman, who was jailed for seven years in 1974 when he carried out a robbery at a post office.

Since then, Bronson has spent most of his life in Britain’s maximum security jails, including a stretch at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.

But Mr Pritchard insists there is another side to the prisoner not well publicised, adding he would have no qualms inviting him to Gravesend should he be released.

Mr Pritchard said: “Bronson was very violent in the 1980s but there is another side to him that people don’t hear about.

“He hasn’t been in trouble for the past 10 to 15 years and has never killed or raped anyone.

“He has raised a lot of money for children’s cancer charities.

“I read he tried to raise as much money as he could for the family of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett to help find his body.

“He’s not dangerous. He changed his name to Charles Salvador to get away from this stigma that surrounds him.

“I think he will get out one day, I hope he does. I would invite him around for a cup of tea.”

Alongside swapping sketches, Mr Pritchard has also sought advice from Bronson when a customer refused to pay for a sketch that had been commissioned and said he plans to post a copy of his latest work, a dedication to the musicians who drowned on board the Titanic, when it’s completed.

Mr Pritchard added: “You get loads of people who write to him, not just me. It’s nice that he is a fan of my artwork.”

To see more of Mr Pritchard’s visit his Facebook page Jay Pritchard Portraits and Art.