Dave Courtney

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Dave Courtney

"Dodgy" Dave Courtney (b. February 17, 1959) is a self-proclaimed former British gangster who has become both an author as well as a very curious celebrity-gangster figure. Author Bernard O'Mahoney and the former member of the Richardson gang Frankie Fraser have accused Courtney of embellishing and fabricating his criminal record and position in the underworld, however Courtney has denied overstating his past.

Born in Bermondsey, London, Courtney often focuses on his links with hard men such as Reggie Kray and the infamous Lenny McLean. Though in the case of the former he was 9 years old when Kray was imprisoned. In his time, he has claimed to have been shot, stabbed, had his nose bitten off and stated that he has had to kill to stay alive himself. Courtney claims to have been been involved in debt collecting, minding clubs, assault, contraband and murder. He also claims he has spent time in the notorious Belmarsh Prison, as a high security prisoner, which has been backed up by ex prison guard Jim Dawkins in his book "The Loose Screw". Dave has cultivated a reputation for using the knuckle duster when debt collecting and was known as "The Yellow Pages Of The Underworld".

Courtney is now an author having had six books published: "Stop The Ride I Want to Get Off", "Raving Lunacy", "Dodgy Dave's Little Black Book", "The Rides Back On", "F**k the Ride" and "Heroes & Villains". He has also starred, directed and produced his own film "Hell To Pay" and took on the leading role of 'Mad Dave' opposite Manish Patel in cult British film Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees. However Dave is probably best known for organising the security at gangster Ronnie Kray's funeral in 1995. Courtney has claimed to be the inspiration for Vinnie Jones's debt collecting hard man in the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Largely making a living from television and personal appearances, Courtney currently runs his own website, involved in charity work, and is currently working on a film called Six Bend Trap as well as Clubbing To Death alongside Craig Charles and Nick Moran.

He often refers to himself as Dave Courtney OBE, "One Big Ego" despite never being awarded an actual OBE medal himself (Order of the British Empire) which the abbreviation commonly means, leading to many to believe he has.

[edit] In popular culture

In 1990 he had a small role in the gangster movie "The Krays".
In 1999 he addressed the Oxford Union Society at a speaker meeting of the prestigious student debating society.
In 2003 California punk rock band Rancid featured a song entitled David Courtney on their most recent release, Indestructible.
Artist Tricky samples him on the song Dave Courtney which appears on the album Product of the Environment (featuring a number of British gangsters).
He performs the spoken intro and outro to the song Hell 2 Pay by indie punk band The Business.
He is currently involved with various movie projects in the UK and in (2005) became involved in a development deal with a California film and television production company. He continues to perform his 'Audience with..' events.
Bestselling author of books including Raving Lunacy and Stop the Ride, The Rides back on and F*CK The Ride.