The gangster is said to have inspired Vinnie Jones's character Big Chris in the 1998 classic Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Born in Bermondsey, the London tough nut claimed to have been stabbed, shot and even had his nose bitten off before it was reattached.

Courtney was cleared in 2004 of attacking his wife, Jennifer Pinto, over an alleged lesbian affair. In 2000 he was cleared of being part of a plan to plant cocaine on innocent women.

In 2009, however, he did get an 18-month conditional discharge from Bristol Crown Court for possessing live ammunition.