Departures of note

Eddie Richardson was a notorious South London gangster who, with his older brother Charlie, led the Richardson mob — also known as the 'Torture Gang' — which feuded with the Kray twins in 1960s London. Born in Camberwell on January 21, 1936, he used a scrap metal business and fruit machine company as fronts for a criminal empire involving drug dealing, protection and extortion rackets.

The gang's downfall came on July 30, 1966, when they were rounded up during mass police raids. The subsequent 'Torture Trial' at the Old Bailey made headlines as rival criminals testified about being beaten and electrocuted. Eddie was sentenced to ten years on top of an existing five-year term for affray.

Richardson served more than 23 years in prison in total, in two stretches, before his final release in 2002. In 1990 he was sentenced to 35 years for involvement in a £70 million cocaine and cannabis heist, but was released after 12 years. He later wrote an autobiography, 'The Last Word: My Life as a Gangland Boss' (2005), and appeared in the documentary series 'British Gangsters: Faces of the Underworld'.

In his later years Richardson became one of the last surviving villains of his generation, frequently giving interviews about the era. He died in hospital in August 2026 at the age of 90.