Charlie Bronson, Britains most infamous prisoner, has refused to appear via video link for a court hearing this week because he likes the smell of a court room.
The 65-year-old prisoner was due to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court via video link from HMP Frankland.
Bronson, now called Charles Salvador, didnt attend the hearing, saying he would only appear in person at the court, which is 90 miles away from where hes being held.
The hearing took place without him and he pleaded not guilty to assaulting a prison officer through his solicitor.
The attack, on a prison officer called Mark Docherty, is alleged to have happened on January 25 this year at HMP Wakefield.
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The court heard that Salvador would not be produced from his cell, with solicitor David Parish telling the court he wanted to make a not guilty plea to one charge of assault.
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Writing from his cell this week, Salvador said he wanted to stand with pride in the real courtroom, rather than appear on a TV screen.
He said he couldnt cope with the new technology in a letter sent to pal Rod Harrison, who was best man at Salvadors wedding to Paula Williamson at HMP Wakefield in November last year.
He wrote: I dont like all that technology shit – a man needs to stand with pride in a court of law – dignity, respect – and fight his case like a man.
I like to smell the court room, breathe in the character of the place, the historic culture.
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I like to study the judge and the proceedings, the nostalgia. A court room is a place to learn (a place of truth), not a muggy TV screen.
He added: Will have to go and apologise to the judge – I cant be part of a pathetic TV screen.
I will plead my not guilty and I shall then appear at trial in person – thats how it is with me.
He went on: Modern technology is something I cant cope with – I find it embarrassing and degrading and humiliating (and its only done to save money).
Salvadors close friend Rod Harrison said that the CPS were wasting time and money by charging Salvador with assault.
He wrote: The CPS are wasting time and money charging Charlie with assault by beating which normally carries a sentence of 6 months. This is a man that is serving a life sentence who will get two year knock back on his next parole.
He will not attend the video link to plead as he has no knowledge of technology due to over 38 years in solitary.
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Technical bail was granted at the hearing and a trial has been scheduled to take place later this year.
Salvador was given a life sentence in 1999 after taking prison art teacher Phil Danielson hostage at HMP Hull because he criticised one of his drawings.
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