Notorious gangster Dave Courtney did not have a will and died penniless after taking his own life aged 64, it has been revealed.
Courtney, who claimed to be an associate of 1960s gangland criminals the Kray twins, swapped an earlier life of crime for writing books in his later years.
He was found dead by his friend, actor Brendan McGirr, at his home on Chestnut Rise, south-east London, on October 22 2023, with a gunshot wound, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard.
Senior coroner Dr Julian Morris concluded after a short inquest in March this year that he took his own life.
Now it has emerged that Courtney left no money to his wife Jenny Pinto nor his two daughters.
Details were revealed in a Letter of Administration filed at London’s High Court, in which a registrar wrote: ‘The application has stated that the gross value of the estate in the UK amounts to £0.’
His wife, known as Jenny Bean, was identified as the estate’s administrator.
Documents suggest Courtney’s home was sold for £500,000 in July 2024.
Former London gangster-turned-author Dave Courtney died aged 64 in October 2023
Following his death it was claimed the gangster-turned-author had made provisions for up to 10 per cent of his estate to go to charity.
The Metro reported that Courtney had been set to donate tens of thousands of pounds to Autistic Inclusive Meets (AIM) after his estate was settled and his possessions were sold in an online auction.
Detective Sergeant James Robinson told Courtney’s inquest about videos the ex-gangster had made in the months before his death.
In one of them he spoke about his rheumatoid arthritis and how he was ‘disguising a lot of pain’, the court heard.
‘I’m having to hide the fact that I can’t get up and down the stairs and in and out of the car and I’m not enjoying it at the moment,’ he said.
‘That’s really it. I don’t want to go waste having a wicked life like I’ve had. Absolutely superb.’
In a 35-second video in the early hours of October 22 2023, Courtney apologised to the people in his life, adding: ‘There’s people that are going to be upset. I didn’t mean to hurt you.’
Seven other videos were found for specific family and friends. In one he can be seen dancing around.
Dave Courtney died after shooting himself at his London home. He was one of Britain’s best-known gangsters
In a final video on at 1.11am on 22 October 2023 Mr Courtney is in his bedroom sitting on the bed in the position and clothes he was found in.
A police investigation into his death concluded that there was ‘no evidence of third party involvement’, Mr Robinson said.
DS Robinson said Mr Courtney had been using a combination of legal and illegal drugs to cope with the pain he was in.
The officer added: ‘After a thorough investigation including the homicide assessment team we found no evidence or indication of third party involvement.’
Detectives searched Camelot Castle extensively as the three-bed semi had ‘extensive outdoor areas including nightclubs and bars’.
As a filmmaker Courtney had collected up to 70 firearms, which had been decommissioned or fired blanks only, the court heard.
The Bermondsey-born gangster claimed to have been shot, stabbed and had his nose almost bitten off in brushes with his rivals.
He is said to have been the inspiration for Vinnie Jones’ character ‘Big Chris’ in the film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Courtney pictured outside his Camelot Castle home in October 2022. The white mansion was decked out with guns, swords, and suits of armour
Courtney, 64, who claimed to be an associate of 1960s gangland criminals the Kray twins, swapped an earlier life of crime for writing books in his later years
In 2000 he was cleared by an Old Bailey jury of involvement in 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 he insisted he simply took advantage of the system to disguise a relationship with a corrupt detective.
He referred to himself as Dave Courtney OBE – ‘One Big Ego’ – and had a painted depiction of himself as a knight in Camelot Castle.
