The criminal careers of brothers Charlie and Eddie Richardson, whose South London gang operated with a level of violence and sophistication that rivaled, and in some accounts surpassed, that of the Kray twins, were ultimately consumed by a bitter personal feud.
While often spoken of as a single unit, the brothers' criminal activities diverged in the early 1960s, leading to a relationship that deteriorated to the point of complete estrangement. In one notable instance in the early 2000s, Eddie, who died at age 90, reportedly confronted his older brother Charlie at a black-tie event, verbally abusing him in front of other guests.
Charlie Richardson died in 2012, and Eddie attended his funeral but refused to be present for the burial service, illustrating the depth of their animosity.
Edward George Richardson was born in Camberwell in 1936. He and his older brother Charlie, abandoned by their father, drifted into petty crime as youths. Eddie, who received his first conviction at age 13 for theft, was described as a "dangerous man" with a talent for and enjoyment of fighting. Charlie, while also capable with his fists, possessed a sharp business acumen. By the mid-1950s, he had established a legitimate scrapyard business with a significant turnover.
Eddie joined Charlie, and their legitimate scrapyard operation became a front for a burgeoning criminal enterprise involved in smuggling, extortion, robbery, assault, and prostitution. The Richardson gang leveraged their reputation for violence to extract protection money from businesses, with non-compliance resulting in vandalism and physical assaults. Their premises included a basement that served as a drinking club, courtroom, and torture chamber for those who crossed them.
Accounts from victims detail extreme brutality, including the use of pliers to extract teeth, cigarettes being stubbed out on skin, and extreme beatings. Eddie Richardson later admitted to using a device that delivered electric shocks, though he downplayed its intensity, stating it was no stronger than a farmer's electric fence. He acknowledged that Charlie enjoyed using it on the genitals of victims.
Charlie Richardson also engaged in "long firm fraud," establishing companies with straw owners to build credit before placing large orders, pocketing the proceeds, and disappearing. In 1963, Eddie and associate 'Mad' Frankie Fraser launched Atlantic Machines, capitalizing on the newly legalized slot machine market. They pressured club owners to install their machines, resorting to vandalism and violence against those who refused.
While the Krays focused on public profile and celebrity association, the Richardsons concentrated on expanding their operations. Although aware of each other and sometimes present at the same venues, there was no direct confrontation between the Richardson brothers and the Kray twins. Sources suggest the Richardsons were the more financially successful, with largely separate income streams.
Charlie Richardson later moved to South Africa with aspirations of owning a diamond mine. Meanwhile, Eddie and Fraser became involved in a violent incident in 1966 at Mr Smith's club in Catford. An altercation escalated into a shooting, resulting in Eddie being wounded and Dickie Hart, an associate of the Kray twins, being killed. This event led to Eddie's arrest and a trial where, unlike previous instances where charges were often dropped due to intimidated witnesses or bribed officials, he was remanded in custody.
Simultaneously, Charlie Richardson faced legal trouble in South Africa. A former business partner was murdered, and a Richardson gang member, Johnny Bradbury, implicated Charlie as the mastermind. Bradbury struck a deal with Scotland Yard, providing information on the Richardsons in exchange for immunity.
This cooperation, coupled with accounts from torture chamber victims, led to a significant police operation on the morning of the 1966 World Cup Final. Dozens of gang members were arrested. Eddie Richardson, expected to be acquitted in a retrial for affray, found himself facing new charges alongside others. The subsequent trial brought the torture allegations to light, resulting in Charlie receiving a 25-year sentence, Fraser ten years, and Eddie ten years, plus an additional five for the Catford incident.
Upon his release in 1977, Eddie attempted to go straight but struggled with his accustomed lifestyle. He became involved with Colombian drug cartels, arranging the distribution of cocaine into the UK. A lucrative deal for an estimated £2 million shipment led to his arrest and a 25-year prison sentence for conspiracy.
It was during this period that the brothers' estrangement became permanent. Eddie accused Charlie of repeatedly stealing from his scrapyard business, contributing to its downfall. He stated, "He was diabolical. He destroyed my family."
While in prison, Eddie discovered a talent for art, which he pursued after his release in 2001. His artwork was exhibited, and he published two autobiographies. He also became a popular after-dinner speaker, recounting his experiences in London's underworld. Charlie Richardson died in September 2012.
Despite the enduring legend of a Kray-Richardson feud, sources indicate this rivalry was largely exaggerated. Associates reported that while tension existed, there were no direct confrontations between the two firms. The killing of George Cornell, an associate of the Richardsons who had switched allegiance and argued with Ronnie Kray, by Ronnie Kray, is cited as a more significant event in fueling the myth of a sustained war than any actual conflict between the Richardson brothers and the Krays.