REFORMED gangster Dave Courtney took his own life after deciding to “stop driving”, his family announced today.
The extreme ex-crime kingpin, 64, was found dead at his south London home yesterday.
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Dave Courtney at the Haymarket premiere of Retribution in September 2017
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Officers man a police cordon around Dave’s house on MondayCredit: LNP
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Police outside Dave’s home in Plumstead on Sunday Credit: The Sun
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Dave appeared in the ITV series Celebrity Villain: Real Life, November 2001. Credit: Carlton
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Courtney and model Jodie Marsh at the premiere of Scooby-Doo 2 in Islington in 2004 Credit: Getty
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Dave with his wife and her sister as part of a performance he promoted in 1993
His family said today that he had lived an “amazing” life but could not deal with the “pain” of living the lifestyle he had chosen.
They also revealed that Dave had been battling cancer and arthritis in his later years and said it was time to “take it off”.
A family statement given to The Sun read: “On 22 October 2023, Dave made the decision to ‘stop driving’.
“He lived an incredible, colorful rock ‘n’ roll life in which he touched the hearts of many.
Read more about Dave Courtney
“The physical pain of the lifestyle he chose, especially the pain from cancer and arthritis in his later years, became too much.
“He decided to ‘stop driving’.
“In his immortal words ‘stop driving, I want to get off’.”
An acquaintance told The Sun that the former gangster was suffering from bowel cancer.
They said, “He could bear the pain no longer.”
A man from Liverpool, who frequented Dave’s home, said it was an eccentric address to say the least.
They added: “He had all these replica firearms and other weapons that he hired out to film companies.”
Dave claimed that Brad Pitt once slept over at his home while he was in the UK filming the gangster film Snatch.
His death came just hours after he had spent the day with friends watching Charlton Athletic beat Reading 4-0 in a League One match.
The extreme former crime kingpin, who has written six books and appeared in films and documentaries, shared the footage on Facebook.
One friend said: “They stayed up until 4am drinking and went to bed. Around 11am his lodger and friend Brendan went to look in Dave’s bedroom as it was very quiet.
“The first impression was that you took your own life. But the police have to be sure and are investigating.”
Dave’s home in Plumstead became famous locally and was nicknamed Camelot Castle because of its appearance.
Inside, huge murals depicted him wearing armor and sitting on a warhorse.
Tearful neighbor Sheila Wellcome, 68, told The Sun: “I saw Dave around 8pm.
“We knew Dave was in a lot of pain with terrible arthritis. He could barely roll a cigarette.
“But he seemed in good spirits. I handed him a cigarette over the wall, and he laughed and joked.”
She said Dave was in possession of about 12 discarded firearms.
She added: “Police came periodically and checked them. To Dave, they were just decorations.”
Market friend Chris Collins, 52, laid flowers at the scene.
He said: “The world is a worse place today after losing Dave.
“He had the scariest phone book this side of the moon, let me tell you – but he was an absolute gentleman. He didn’t want to miss a single minute of his life. He was afraid he would miss it.”
Dave is rumored to be the inspiration behind the character of Vinnie Jones in Guy Ritchie’s gangster film Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrels.
He claimed connections to gang legends such as Reggie Kray and Lenny McLean — and arranged for security at Ronnie Kray’s funeral in 1995.
But Essex Boys associate Bernard O’Mahoney and Frankie Fraser, a former member of Richardson’s terrifying 1960s gang, accused Courtney of fabricating and embellishing his past.
The Metropolitan Police said the death is currently being treated as unexpected and is under investigation.
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Dave at the funeral of Ronnie Biggs at Golders Green Crematorium in January 2014 Credit: Getty
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Dave at his Camelot Castle home in Plumstead, South London, last October Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon/BPM
You are not alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It does not discriminate, it touches the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and football players.
It is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, deadlier than cancer and traffic accidents.
And men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.
Yet it’s rarely talked about, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage if we don’t all stop and pay attention now.
That’s why The Sun launched the You Are Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all help save lives.
Let’s all pledge to ask for help when we need it, and listen to others… You are not alone.
If you or anyone you know needs help with mental health issues, the following organizations offer support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education