Police probe Dave Courtney’s ‘unexpected’ death after East End gangster-turned-celebrity was found dead with a gunshot wound and ‘pillow over his face’ in his ‘Camelot Castle’ home in London

East End gangster Dave Courtney’s gun death was this morning being investigated by detectives after he was found with a pillow over his face.

The hardman, 64, who was the inspiration for Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ memorable Little Chris enforcer was discovered in his famous Camelot Castle pad.

Courtney had been in high spirits after watching a football match with friends and drinking into the earlier hours of Sunday morning.

But his friend and lodger Brendan McGirr, 57, had been worried when he did not emerge from his bedroom in his south-east London home.

He went into Courtney’s room to find him in bed, shot through the head, and with the pillow covering his face. 

Sources said the gangster had been wearing a glove and had used a Glock 9mm pistol, a type of gun favoured by the criminal underworld.

A statement had appeared on Courtney’s Twitter page on Sunday announcing he ‘tragically took his own life’ at his Plumstead home ‘with a firearm’. 

Scotland Yard is investigating his ‘unexpected’ death. No arrests have been made. 

It comes just three months after Courtney was hauled to court after police found weapons in his home.

He was charged with housemate McGirr, 57, who runs an industry prop company, after knuckledusters, daggers and throwing stars were spotted. Pictures inside the property which featured in magazines had shown weapons on the wall.

But on December 29, 2022, when local police visited the address to discuss Courtney’s New Year organised bare knuckle fights, they took exception.

They returned half-an-hour later with a sergeant and identified various weapons scattered around the property.

Courtney and McGirr, who say they had no idea they were illegal and had them for years, were hauled before Bromley Magistrates’ Court in July accused of possession of offensive weapons.

Courtney – well-known for his white suit – beat the charge, which was withdrawn after film props company boss McGill pleaded guilty to illegally possessing the items.

Speaking outside court after the charge was dropped against him, Courtney looked relieved.

He told filmmaker Liam Galvin: ‘Not guilty, but I wasn’t actually guilty anyway.

‘I’m proud of my friend for holding his hands up.

‘We’re going out for a meal, we are going to console Brendan.

‘I don’t think he will do community work – he’d rather go to prison.

‘Don’t get a knuckleduster in your drawer, they are against the law now, they’ll get you nicked.’ 

It made his death this weekend all the more difficult to understand.

Courtney had enjoyed the ‘full works’ having a three course meal at The Valley watching Charlton, who beat Reading 4-0 in a League One match. 

A Facebook post on his profile showed him dressed in a white shirt, blue waistcoat and red tie as he posed and smiled with friends. 

He wrote: ‘An wat a cool cool day it’s all turning out to be.’

Neighbour Sheila Wellcome said he was suffering with arthritis and could barely roll a cigarette. 

Courtney was one of Britain’s best-known gangsters and made a name for himself through his affiliation with famous London East End hardmen such as the Krays, Roy Shaw and Lenny McLean.

Ms Wellcome, 68, told The Sun he appeared in good spirits when she handed him a cigarette last night and he was laughing and joking before he said he was tired and went to bed. 

‘I just can’t believe I’m never going to see him again. It’s so sad,’ she said.

She said police would occasionally come to his home to check his 12 decommissioned firearms which he treated as ornaments.     

The grandmother added: ‘He seemed happy. He’d just got his driving licence back and was getting a new Peugeot which he was really excited about.’ 

Courtney was only nine-years-old when the London-based double act were jailed but he claims to have arranged the security for Ronnie Kray’s funeral back in 1995.

In a statement on his official social media accounts, a spokesman said Courtney shot himself at home. 

The Metropolitan Police said officers attended a property on Chestnut Rise, in Plumstead, south-east London. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his death is being treated as unexpected and is under investigation. No arrests have been made and his family have been informed, the force said. 

Born in Bermondsey, south London, Courtney became infamous as a knuckle-duster wielding debt collector, previously claiming to have been shot, stabbed and had his nose almost bitten off – before they sewed it back on. 

He claimed to have been found not guilty in 19 separate trials but in January 2009 he was given an 18-month conditional discharge at Bristol Crown Court, on a charge of possessing live ammunition.

The prolific gangster is said to have been the inspiration for Vinnie Jones’ character Big Chris in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

In 2004 he was cleared of attacking his wife Jennifer Pinto over an alleged lesbian affair. Four years earlier, he walked free from the Old Bailey after he was cleared of being part of a plot to plant cocaine on an innocent woman.

During the trial he was named as a registered police informant using the alias ‘Tommy Mack’. But Courtney insisted he simply took advantage of the system to disguise a relationship with a corrupt detective.

‘I have never been a grass,’ he said. He is also known to have spent time in Belmarsh prison.

In recent times he became somewhat of a celebrity figure, making a living from appearances in numerous television documentaries and a number of low-budget British gangster films. He also starred in, directed and produced his own film, Hell To Pay.

He went on to feature in films such as Six Bend Trapp, Clubbing to Death and The Dead Sleep Easy. 

Courtney published six books – including titles such as Dodgy Dave’s Little Black Book – and recorded a version of ‘I Fought The Law’ with Scottish pop-punks Mute.

He referred to himself as Dave Courtney OBE – ‘One Big Ego’ – and has a painted depiction of himself as a knight in his south London house.

Today tributes for the much-loved gangster have poured in on social media. 

Writer and author Rocky Troiani said on social media: ‘This is a post I never thought I would be writing. The loss of Dave Courtney is beyond words so heartbreaking to write. 

‘Dave had been a close friend for many years as well as a great support for my charity work as photo shows here and even for a little sick girl just couple years ago dressed a father Christmas. 

‘Dave had a heart of pure gold and would help anyone that genuinely needed it. I will miss my Christmas eve call this year. Such a sad loss and one that has broken many hearts too. God bless you sir you will be so sadly missed.’

Former boxer Ben Doughty was taken in by Courtney in 2016 when he ‘pretty much lost everything’. He posted an emotional tribute to his friend alongside a black and white photo of the pair standing together. 

Mr Doughty wrote: ‘If I hadn’t known Dave personally, I might have taken a dim view of the whole “celebrity gangster” thing but he was a great guy with a good heart who never took himself too seriously.’

He added: ‘Dave took me in at his famous “Castle Camelot” with no questions asked. When I arrived on a Saturday morning, he gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek before saying, “If you’re Joey’s [Pyle, Courtney’s friend] then you’re MINE. And I don’t want to see anyone go hungry in my house, help yourself to anything in the fridge”.’

Heartbroken close friend Shinobi Ryder said life would not be the same without him and spoke of how he was planning to come visit Courtney. 

‘A part of me is missing today,’ the web graphic designer and music artists wrote. ‘Dave is gone and my soul feels a bit empty. He was a big part of my life and family. I can’t breathe.’

Not-for-profit organisation Autistic Inclusive Meets, where Courtney had been a patron since 2020, said they were heartbroken by his death.

‘His commitment to protecting autistic and ADHD teens from peer pressure, gangs, and the lack of support was unwavering,’ they wrote on their Facebook page. ‘We’re proud to have had him as our patron, and his absence is devastating.

‘Our condolences go out to Dave’s loved ones. He was adored by our attendees, and his legacy is a huge part of AIM. We’ll miss him deeply.’  

Bareknuckle boxer Scott Dixon was in Malta with Courtney just over a month ago. He said Courtney was due to be a special guest at his Bare Knuckle Boxing bout this week where he is fighting for the Charles Bronson belt. 

He said 10 bells will be rung ahead of his fight in Courtney’s memory.   

Another wrote: ‘Some called him a gangster, some called him a villain I’m sure he was called an awful lot of things. As for me, for 15 years I called him my friend.

‘Truly and deeply saddened to hear he has left this world. RIP my good friend Dave Courtney. I will miss you.’

Making his final footsteps online, Dave shared a photos of himself, surrounded by friends, who beamed into the camera as they enjoyed a day out at Charlton Athletic F.C. in east London.

Looking jolly in the pictures, the former gangster wrote: ‘At Charlton today. Full works today three course meal and our man James company is Sponsor for the game. Billingham communications … an what a cool cool day it’s all turning out to be.’ 

In an earlier video, he was seen telling fans how to ‘introduce a little class into their homes’ with candles.

‘It will make your whole road smell nice,’ he said. ‘So much so do I believe their good if you’re unhappy with it bring it back to my house.’ 

He goes on to blow a kiss into the camera, signing off with a gleeful chuckle.

The video appeared to be made outside of his home ‘Camelot Castle’ in south-east London.

His home became a local landmark over the years, decked out with union flags and flags of St George.

It also has a huge side wall mural of the ex-gangster depicted as a knight sitting on a knuckle duster-themed throne surrounded by his men.