The ex-wife of Britain's most notorious prisoner has been banned from seeing her former beau because she 'poses a risk to security and safety'. Standing at 4ft 11in, 73-year-old Irene Dunroe cannot see her ex-husband, Britain's most notorious prisoner, Charles Bronson, because she is deemed to be a threat to security. Charles Bronson, also 73, is currently serving time behind bars at HMP Wakefield, also known as 'Monster Mansion'. Irene and Bronson, also 73, married when they were teenagers in 1971. Bronson was jailed for the first time in 1974 for armed robbery and the pair divorced in 1975, but have remained close since. Irene has frequently made trips to see her ex-husband in prison during his many years behind bars. Bronson has spent a total of 52 years in prison serving consecutive sentences for crimes including violence, grievous bodily harm, hostage-taking and false imprisonment. Roughly 37 of those years have been spent in solitary confinement. Irene Dunroe, 73, pictured in 2018, has been banned from visiting her ex-husband Charles Bronson in prison Bronson is Britain's most notorious prisoner and has served a total of 52 years behind bars for crimes including GBH, hostage-taking, and false imprisonmentBut Irene, who works in an Ann Summers shop, said she received a letter from HMP Wakefield informing her that she could no longer see Bronson. She told the Sun: 'What threat could I pose? That I'm going to batter them with a sex toy from work? It's completely stupid. I am a pensioner who goes to visit him using my bus pass.'She added: 'I am part of his support network, which he really needs right now as he's going for parole.'He is hopeful of getting it. He's old now. He just wants a bit of peace.' Irene said she would continue writing to him despite being taken off his visitor and call list, although she feared the letters would go missing. She also noted that his behaviour had changed since moving to HMP Wakefield, saying that he usually sang to her Frank Sinatra songs and ballads like When Will I See You Again, but he had become quieter. Irene added that she plans to challenge the ban. Bronson, who is legally known as Charles Salvador, was first jailed in 1974 at the age of 22 for armed robbery and wounding and has spent most of his life inside for a string of attacks on warders and prisoners across a number of British jails. Dunroe said her ex-husband 'just wants a bit of peace' and needs a support network ahead of his upcoming parole hearingsHis latest prison debacle in July came after he was enraged by being served his favourite apple crumble - 'without custard'. Britain's most notorious prisoner staged a sit-down protest in an exercise yard at maximum-security HMP Wakefield, having defied repeated orders to leave.Prison officers wearing riot gear were eventually called in and forced Bronson back into his cell in the jail’s segregation unit, the Daily Mail understands. The extraordinary impasse was said to have been triggered by events at dinner when Bronson was handed his favourite dessert – apple crumble, but without custard.The missing accompaniment was said to have 'infuriated' the veteran inmate – who has spent more than half a century behind bars – prompting him to stage his protest the following day.A source at the Category A prison – nicknamed Monster Mansion because of the calibre of criminals it holds – told the Daily Mail: 'He was told more than once that exercise time was over and that he needed to come back inside, but he simply dug his heels in.'With Bronson, even something as small as a pudding can become a major security headache because officers cannot afford to assume he is bluffing.'The whole thing started because he got apple crumble without custard the night before.'He loves his food and saw it as another example of the prison not giving him what he believes he is entitled to, so he decided to make his point in the yard.'Once it became clear he was not moving, specially equipped officers had to be brought in to bring the incident to an end.'It is understood that internal prison staff dealt with the incident, which happened in a yard linked to the Close Supervision Centre – a unit where Wakefield's most violent and disruptive prisoners are held. The stand-off did not last long.The source added: 'Three teams comprised of three guards surrounded him. Bronson ran at the shield, looked to the sky and shouted, "This is for Reggie Kray".'Bronson, who was moved from HMP Long Lartin after attacking a prisoner, is effectively held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day.He is not permitted to associate with other prisoners, and must use the gym and shower facilities alone.The Daily Mail contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment. READ MORE: Britain's most notorious prisoner Charles Bronson sparks stand-off at 'Monster Mansion' jail - after his 'apple crumble was served without custard'