This was to mark his authority and territory in the area. One of the top '80s gangster movies is. The Maniac was however busted in 2018 by law enforcement officers who had been tracking his movements. Although most of his criminal involvements are traced back to the Netherlands, he is believed to be originally from Liverpool due to his accent. From overseeing gang activity to being paid to attack rivals by drug lords, Bradley and Downes easily became a notorious pair in crime. Legend has it that he once tackled some ruffians by grabbing the leader and turning him upside down. His 14 year sentence was thought to have begun in Randers, Denmark, but in 2014 the Foreign Office confirmed he was moved back to the UK to finish his jail term. He smuggled drugs into the UK for distribution across England and Wales. Liverpool St Station - 27 Sept 1980. He had served two and a half years in prison the last two in 1995. The Fitzgibbons, whose violent exploits and feuds with rivals as a family stretch back decades on Merseyside, were described as tier one criminals at the top of their game before a lengthy undercover operation left their empire in tatters. Aigburth and Allerton are historically some of the nicer areas to live, but you'll pay the pleasure of it and then some. The nightly destruction and violence must have had some adverse psychological effects. GK. "He was quite a unique character was Tommy because he was a larger than life character. Watkinson rose to power as part of the "Nogga Dogz" gang, which controlled much of the drug trade in Liverpool during this time. ", Stephen recalls that he was one of the most scary guys that you could ever wish to meet, "They whispered my name, people wouldn't look me directly in the face such was my reputation, such was my ferocity". However, he was eventually arrested and given multiple life sentences for his involvement in various crimes. It is home to the Beatles, the world-famous rock band, and major football clubs including Liverpool and Everton FC. He was finally convicted of Kinsellas murder in 2019, alongside his spotter, Stephen Boyle. Happy travels! I can't say anything about the investigations but Liverpool criminals are still an interest in our investigations.". In court, his 12-year-old attacker explained how they met the boy coming up Marsden Street, off West Derby Road: 'We got two bottles of lemonade and told the lad to come with us. And if you actually have bullets, it's an extra year for every bullet.". Tucker gained notoriety for his involvement in drug trafficking, specifically cocaine. ECHO profiles most-wanted fugitive after Australia 'sighting'. His story serves as a reminder of the dangerous world of organized crime and how it can consume even those who appear untouchable. Despite being arrested multiple times throughout his career, Watkinson always managed to evade serious jail time thanks to his connections within the criminal underworld. Unlike. In 1918, a posse of three teenagers from Bootle lassoed two women in Stanley Road and dragged them screaming halfway down Rufford Road. Hes a nephew to other notorious criminals; Anthony and Leon Cullen. For local insights and insiders travel tips that you wont find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. Now he helps kids and prisoners - counselling them about the horrific nature of crack and smack: "I dealt drugs, I dealt death - there's no two ways about it. Liverpool gangster was 'figurehead' in major drugs plot to flood Teesside with heroin Paul Smith, 33 . Michael Showers in the 1980s Notorious Toxteth drugs barons Michael and Delroy Showers are both believed to have been released from jail . This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Her two-year-old daughter was sleeping upstairs at the time. There are lighter moments. The drug dealer was put behind bars for the publics protection after a secret probe caught him conspiring to buy guns and threatening to kill a teenager. They usually did.. His empire is estimated to have been worth 200 million pounds. Gangs involved in activities such as drug trafficking occasionally have feuds, and criminal activity is a persisting issue not only in Liverpool, and in most cities in the UK. Joseph McKeever was a notorious Liverpool gangster who met his demise in 2017. The decline of Liverpool's answer to New Yorks Macy's has been customers favouring shopping centres over the old-fashioned department stores. In February 2021, he was arrested in a group of six gang members allegedly sent to Spain to avenge Paul Masseys killing in 2015. Former chairman of Next George Davies, shows off his robes for the degree ceremony of the Polytechnic at which he was doctorate in business administration. He was convicted in 2019 after a major investigation unveiled his operations. For example the Chinese opium trade was centered around the docks, and later on - in the 1940's after the war - cannabis was starting to come in with Jamaican seamen. achillea4 4 hr. Mrs Thatcher may have neglected Liverpool in the first half of the 1980s, but Mr Hatton and the Militant's grip on my city by the middle of the decade set progress back a generation. Funeral service of former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, held at St mary's church in West Derby, Liverpool, 1981. Despite the violence, he says that old school villains had a code of honour to stick to. He is one of the most notorious Liverpool gangsters who has been involved in various criminal activities including drug trafficking and money laundering. I hate it, having to get up in the morning and having to depend on something "If I knew then what I was going to be like I'd have stayed away from it and that's the truth, I'd have stayed away.". The worst thing I ever got involved in was heroin. However, in 2020, The Maniacs luck finally ran out when he was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to murder an enemy gang member. both believed to have been released from jail, where he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in jail, Revealed: Curtis Warren and the major league crooks hit with empire-crippling crime orders, Stephen French writes letter to The ECHO after being acquitted of rape, has evaded capture for more than a decade, Who is Kevin Parle? Now serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2019, Anthony was also a renowned firearm supplier in the North West. There he met the Irish photographer Tom Wood and worked Continue reading "Rob Bremner's stunning photographs of Liverpool in the 1980s and . He was an old school armed robber - a safe blower and a wages snatcher. French was involved in numerous criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and armed robbery. He was covered with blood so we pulled him into a shed and then took all his clothes off, and we both started to throw bricks at him. His legacy lives on as a reminder of the citys dark past and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting involved with organized crime. He was known for carrying out brutal attacks on rival gang members and anyone who crossed him. The young victim was found wandering in the road, wounded and naked. Something went wrong, please try again later. Lam's crimes had such an influence in The U.K that the Home Office had hired additional sources for the detectives. He is believed to have been Curtis Warrens close associate, and one of the major crime bosses overseeing drug smuggling in the UK. Read also; 10 Famous 1960s British Gangsters. In 2016, he was arrested again for drug trafficking and money laundering. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. It's something I've looked back at in disgust at some of the things that I did.". Lucy Hargreaves, 22, was under a duvet on the sofa in her front room in Lambourne Road when three men burst in August 2005, fired a shotgun at her and then torched the house. Subscribe to our newsletter and get the best historical content straight into your inbox. Built in 1615, it has seen wars and peace through centuries of history and watched Liverpool grow from a village to become one of the country's busiest ports, 17th October 1980. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The 59-year-old is set to be released from prison in November, and according to reports in The Times, could be subject to a serious crime prevention order, which would ban him from his home city altogether. Ghettoes and gangs At the start of the 1980s, a handful of families controlled Liverpool's drugs trade from homes in the south of the city. I did not hit him with a piece of iron, but only with a strap and some bricks. Mick, a Liverpool John Moores university librarian and part-time boxing coach, even observed similarities in the suggested ways of halting such outrages. Father Christmas at the T J Hughes Christmas grotto in Liverpool. After leaving the army, Kinsella fell into a life of crime and quickly rose up through the ranks of Liverpools underworld. Also thought to be in Belmarsh, he actually turned on his former partner in crime and slashed him in a prison attack . Smith was a father of five too, and some opine that his assassination had nothing to do with criminal activity. Football hooligan gangs of the 1970s and 1980s frequently had names. In court, one of the cowboys explained they had meant no harm. Your email address will not be published. He became a major player in Merseysides criminal scene and served up to 34 years in prison throughout his criminal career. Although not strictly part of a named gang, Curtis Warren is one of Liverpool's most notorious drug barons. He was arrested in 2009. Members of the High Rip were drawn mainly from the area around Portland Street, off Vauxhall Road, and Mick says they were one of the most violent gangs ever to emerge from Liverpool, often targeting dockers wandering alone. By the mid 80's, Liverpool's drugs squad was trying to clean up what had become known as 'Smack City'. In the 1980s, the gangster film genre resurfaced, bringing with it top directors like Brian DePalma, John Huston, Francis Ford Coppola, and more. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . All rights reserved. Some of Merseysides most notorious figures are well into lengthy sentences at Her Majestys Pleasure. Another gangster was once executed in Charlie's kitchen - shot to death at point blank range. One of the themes which runs through the book is that when one phase or trend for gangs runs out, another one replaces it. The District Auditor finally removed 49 of the citys Councilors for refusing to cut the budget, refusing to make good the deficit, and forcing the City Council into bankruptcy. The ECHO looks at some of the region's highest profile crooks to see where they are now, Get the latest crime reports and stories from Liverpool Echo straight to your inbox. The gang was so organised and so bold that they thought they could get away with anything. Another chapter looks at examples of how youngsters were affected by cowboy films. In 2018, he claimed that he did so after a postman gave him a Bible. They utilized corrupt port officials to smuggle cocaine, heroin, and cannabis into the country. Despite being convicted multiple times throughout his criminal career, French continued to be active in the underworld. As part of the gang, he was involved in the drug trade, armed robbery, and numerous acts of violence that spread terror around. He's credited by police with being Liverpool's first drugs baron. In 2009, he was again sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in a conspiracy to smuggle cannabis. There, they brokered a deal with the Cali Cartel, who agreed to smuggle cocaine in boxes covered by lead ingots. Kekula, then 21, was arrested. The best '80s gangster films also feature amazing actors, like Jack Nicholson, Richard Gere, and Kevin Costner. In the mid-90s, French became involved in a turf war between rival gangs in Liverpool. One of the perpetrators was armed with a tree branch, one clutched a stick and the other brandished a wire spoke from an umbrella In 1941, a female magistrate expressed dismay that such vicious children existed in Liverpool.. My nephew Anthony Decan was shot in the head with a 9 mm pistol - survived - but lost the use of his left eye. He earned his moniker due to his cold and calculated nature, which made him a feared figure on the streets. It is thought Showers, who had been jailed in Scandinavia over drugs offences before his sentencing in 2009, was released on licence from a jail in Yorkshire last year. Meanwhile, Margaret Thatchers Conservative government was deeply unpopular in Liverpool, with the Conservative share of votes consistently low in most local council and parliamentary elections throughout the 1980s. Read more on; 10 Famous Gangs and Criminal Organizations in British History. In the early 1980s Liverpool was tagged by the media as 'Smack City' or 'Skag City' after it experienced an explosion in organised gang crime and heroin abuse, especially within the city's more deprived areas. The Lam. Warren is said to have learned about the drugs trade while working as a bouncer at a nightclub in Liverpool. SOCA believes that half of the heroin and cocaine seized in Britain has passed through the Netherlands. At the time, his net worth was estimated at 40 million pounds. He has appealed both sentences, including the cannabis plot one, after police unlawfully bugged a hire car central to the case and listened in on conversations that took place inside it. He became a petty thief at an early age, and soon advanced into armed robbery. "My own personal history with firearms my son Stephen was shot twice in a year, the second time almost fatally - his girlfriend was with him. Comerford was born and raised in Liverpools Vauxhall district. He hailed from Everton, Liverpool. Factories closed, drug usage soared, and buildings along Dock Road were left as eerie, monolithic reminders of what once was. His legacy as one of Liverpools most ruthless gangsters lives on today an unforgettable figure whose crimes will never be forgotten by those who knew of him or were affected by them. He had been hired by a Turkish drug lord to recover money from a businessman in a failed heroin trade deal. That same debate was taking place after the first world war. His name is Charlie Seiga and today he's nearly 70 and says he's a reformed character. With help from their gang members, the two staged a prison break in 2011 while being transported to court. "I actually taxed drug dealers not for the drugs - for the money. Despite being sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, Fellows remains a cult figure among some within Liverpools criminal underworld. David Goulding was one of the most notorious Liverpool gangsters in the UK. They say that there's little else for kids to do but hang out together. After his arrest and conviction in 2020, the gangs operations were severely disrupted. Members dressed in a uniform of tight-fitting jacket and bell-bottomed trousers held up by a thick leather belt. Amsterdam was one of the central strands in a spider's web of supply chains which stretch from Liverpool to Bogata to Kabul. We Hope You Enjoy It! In 1983, Liverpool elected its first Labour council, which vowed to defend the city from unjust cuts under the Thatcher government. Very very seldom was there guns. It has housed some of the most notorious gangsters, thriving in Merseysides underworld. 10 Famous Gangs and Criminal Organizations in British History. The two used a yacht to sail to France, after which they traveled to Venezuela. Like Bradley, has jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 22 years. Gee, formerly of Maryport Close in Everton, was found guilty of two counts of threats to kill and another two of blackmail at a trial. He worked in security firms in Essex, and this made it easier for his gang to run drugs in Essex clubs. He was jailed for three years in 2013 for possessing a knife and threatening a business associate with an imitation firearm. He was to obtain the money or kidnap the businessmans wife until payment was made. The Story Of Sam Walker Is One That Will Never Be Forgotten In The UK Criminal Underworld From Surviving On The Tough Streets Of Liverpool, Mixing With Some . A former community leader - known for driving a white Rolls Royce through the streets of Toxteth - he had spent years locked up in a Turkish jail over his role in an international smuggling plot. As part of the gang, he was involved in the drug trade, armed robbery, and numerous acts of violence that spread terror around. In September that year police launched Operation Asquith to smash the gang, with raids taking place in Plymouth, Southampton, Sheffield, and Greater Manchester. MOST FEARED GANGSTERS IN LIVERPOOL TOP 5- STEPHEN FRENCH, DARREN GEE, SAM WALKER, CURTIS WARREN "When you think of the crime in them days no old woman got hurt and no old man got mugged or nothing we just wanted money and we got money," says Charlie. He owned several nightclubs around Liverpool and was often seen out on the town with famous footballers and celebrities. He is also the author of Its Hard to Be Good. His public talks are aimed at encouraging people to avoid crime. Having abandoned his crime in the 1980s, he turned to write books on crime, and Killer was his first publication. He says it all began with the mass immigration of destitute Irish into Liverpool during the potato famine. (?-1980) Norman Ryan (1895-1936) Pietro Scarcella (born 1950) Asau Tran (1952 or 1953-1991) . It is alleged that this was carried out on orders from the Colombian drug cartel, but the claim remains unconfirmed. The city council incurred heavy debt as it fought the central governments proposal to reduce funding for local services. Tucker was a notorious member of the Essex Boys, a gang that operated in the 1980s and 1990s. Two brothers built Liverpool's most powerful drug gang - close to being seen as a bona fide cartel to rival Europe's significant criminal factions from Ireland, Russia and North Africa. Stephen French is now an anti-gun campaigner: "Firearms terrify me because firearms in the hands of wrong people end lives, destroy lives, end communities. Kinsella had many enemies within the criminal world and faced multiple assassination attempts over the years. "I wasn't a drug dealer, I didn't sell drugs," he says. Drug trafficking, armed robbery, extortion, and murder are just a few of the criminal activities that make up their portfolio. The Story Of Sam Walker Is One That Will Never Be Forgotten In The UK Criminal Underworld From Surviving On The Tough Streets Of Liverpool, Mixing With Some Of The Most Dangerous Criminals In The UK And Spending Years Of His Life In Jail Most Thought It Was The End Of The Road For Mr Walker However, Throughout His Trials And Tribulations, Mr Walker Has Somehow Always Been Able To Find Time To Help Those Who Are Less Fortunate Than Himself (Even If At Times This Means Putting His Own Freedom At Risk To Help Others) From Liverpool To Africa, Men Women And Children, Those In High Positions Of Power To People With Nothing All Know The Name, Sam WalkerStreet Crime UK Asks You To Join Us As We Take A Look Into Real UK Crimes And UK Criminal History With In-Depth UK Crime Documentaries Our Mission Is To Help The Younger Generation Learn From The Mistakes Made In The Past And To Hopefully Show That No Matter How Bad Your Situation Or Circumstances There Is Always A Way To Change And Do Good We Are Dedicated To Pushing The Boundaries When Bringing New Media And Content To Our Audience.Stay Connected Via Our Website, YouTube channel, and Facebook. He is considered to have been one of the biggest British drug traffickers in his prime. Comerford succumbed to cancer in 2003, at the age of 70. He referred to himself as the Big Boss Baby, having taken over leadership of his gang after the arrest of former leaders. Today, Stephen French remains behind bars but continues to maintain his status as one of the most infamous gangsters in Liverpools history. Before he became involved with organized crime, Kinsella served in the British Army for over 12 years. Anthony Cullen has been described by law enforcement as a ruthless and arrogant figure in the drug trafficking world. He was infamous for his involvement in drug trafficking, extortion and armed robbery. While McKeever may have been seen as a powerful figure within the gangland scene during his lifetime, ultimately, it proved to be nothing more than an illusion. Despite his reputation as one of Liverpools most dangerous criminals, French managed to evade capture for years. But in the 40s kids were pushing threatening notes through doors. His older brother, Michael, is also understood to be a free man. Your email address will not be published. These cold bloodied assassinations resulted from criminals sorting out their differences. Born Stephen French, he adopted the nickname The Maniac due to his unpredictable and erratic behaviour. Julian Linskill is a leading crime lawyer in Liverpool. One such group was The Cornermen, whose members would supposedly wait on a street corner for a victim to pass by before they pounced. It was a fast, frivolous time and the money was spent fast and frivolously.". In 1998, Maguire was shot dead in a gang brawl, by Darren Becouarn. Liverpool gangster James "Pancake" Taylor masterminded an underworld revenge attack on an amateur boxer who knocked him out in a prison brawl. He now refers to himself as the fighting preacher. In 2008, a documentary titled Danny Dyers Britains Deadliest Men was released, featuring French. While they may be infamous figures, its important to remember that there are consequences to engaging in criminal activity and hurting others along the way. Mr Kelly was just 16 when he was gunned down in a Toxteth street a year earlier in June 2004. In Toxteth, Inside Out met two former gang members who told us how easy it is for to get guns: "You can get an 8mm Luger for 350 bills or something. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. It wasn't only teenagers causing trouble in Liverpool's past though. Despite being arrested numerous times throughout his criminal career, he always managed to evade justice. Tommy made his money from bank robbery - and one detective who knew him well is Albert Kirby. Police want to question Parle in relation the murders of Walton mum Lucy Hargreaves and Toxteth teenager Liam Kelly.