Heartbreaking last images show smiling ex-gangster enjoying the football
The late London gangster-turned-actor Dave Courtney enjoyed a day supporting his favourite football club yesterday - before he was found dead at his home this morning.
Courtney's family announced in a statement on social media this evening that he had taken his own life "with a firearm", with Met Police attending the scene at around 11:15am today. The statement read: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Courtney at the age of 64. Dave tragically took his own life in the early hours of Sunday 22nd October, with a firearm at his Camelot Castle home in Plumstead."
And now pictures have surfaced of Courtney spending a day out at the football to watch Charlton Athletic FC yesterday, in what he described as a "cool, cool day". The pictures show a grinning Courtney enjoying hospitality treatment in The Valley stadium.
The ex-gangster died on Sunday morning (22 Oct) (Facebook)
Courtney watched on as Charlton emphatically won 4-0 against Reading (Facebook)Courtney wrote on Facebook alongside the pictures at 15:52 yesterday: "At Charlton today . Full works today three course meal and our man James company is Sponser for the game. Billingham communications .... an wat a cool cool day it's all turning out to be."
One comment on the post said "Is that our Bobby Baxter there David C xx" referring to the former Brighton player, allegedly in one of the pictures. "It most certainly is x", was Courtney's response. The comments are now flooded with people expressing sorrow at his passing.
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Courtney was infamously affiliated with the Kray brothers - and claims to have organised the security at Ronnie Kray's funeral. The former London gangster says he has been stabbed, shot and had his nose almost bitten off - before it was sewed back on.
Born in Bermondsey, Courtney became infamous as a debt collector wielding a knuckleduster, and claims to have been found not guilty in 19 different trials - although he was found guilty in January 2009 of possessing live ammunition. Although he was only 9 when the Kray's were first imprisoned, Courtney claims he was an affiliate of Britain's notorious criminal pairing.
Later in life, Courtney turned to film, starring in various low-budget gangster films, including Six Bend Trapp, Clubbing to Death and The Dead Sleep Easy. He also produced, directed and starred in his own film: Hell to Pay.
Author Martin Knight wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "I interviewed Dave Courtney at his interesting home some months ago in connection with a book I was working on. He was eccentric, charming & very funny. Shocked & saddened to hear the tragic news today."
A friend of Courtney's Manny Clark wrote on Facebook: "My heart goes out to his family, especially his poor Mum who is in her 90s and Davey boy was her world." Internet celebrity Castillo wrote simply: "RIP Dave Courtney, legend brav".
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the Mirror: "Police were called at about 11:25hrs on Sunday, 22 October to a residential address on Chestnut Rise, SE18 following reports of a man found deceased.
"Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended. A 64-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed. Formal identification has not taken place. The death is currently being treated as unexpected and is under investigation. There have been no arrests."
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