Former gangland boss Eddie Richardson, a significant figure in London's criminal underworld and a rival of the notorious Kray twins, has died at the age of 90. Richardson's sister, Elaine, confirmed his death, stating he passed away at Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley, south London, following a recent admission for pneumonia.
Richardson, along with his brother Charlie, led the "Torture Gang" in Sixties London. The gang operated under the guise of legitimate businesses, including a scrap metal enterprise and a fruit machine company, to front a criminal empire involved in drug dealing, protection rackets, and extortion. The gang was particularly known for its brutal methods, allegedly employing 'Mad' Frankie Fraser for acts of torture, which reportedly included pulling teeth with pliers, nailing victims to floors, and electrocution.
Richardson had a long history of criminal activity and served substantial prison time. He was described by two Home Secretaries as "one of the most dangerous men in Britain." His most significant arrest came in 1990 for a £70 million drug deal, which initially resulted in a 35-year sentence that was later commuted to 13 years. In total, Richardson spent over 23 years in prison across two periods, with his final release occurring in 2002. His brother, Charlie Richardson, was sentenced to 25 years for his involvement in extortion, fraud, assault, and grievous bodily harm.
Richardson's feud with the east London-based Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie, dates back over 60 years. In 2015, Eddie Richardson publicly dismissed the Krays' reputation, calling them "small timers" who lacked the intelligence to be considered true rivals. He suggested they were more interested in emulating American gangster films like those featuring Al Capone than engaging in serious criminal enterprises.
Despite his past, a source close to Richardson indicated that in his later years, he remained a "staunch old fella" whose activities, if any, would have been kept private. Richardson's associates included figures from the Great Train Robbery, prison reformer Lord Longford, and Brian Keenan, head of the IRA's armed council.
The rivalry between the Richardson gang and the Krays was marked by violence. In 1966, Ronnie Kray murdered George Cornell, a member of the Richardson gang, the night after a violent confrontation between the two mobs. Later that year, in July, the Richardson gang was targeted in mass police raids, coinciding with England's World Cup victory. The subsequent year saw the "Torture Trial," which brought the actions of 'Mad' Frankie Fraser into national focus.
Former police officer Dick Kirby, in his book "London's Gangs at War," contrasted accounts of the Krays and the Richardson gang, noting the Krays as "self-serving, ruthless and murdering bullies" while describing the Richardson Torture Gang's methods as designed for "utter humiliation and denigration" of their victims. 'Mad' Frankie Fraser himself died in 2014 at the age of 90, having spent 42 years in jail. Eddie Richardson's death marks the end of an era for one of London's most infamous criminal families.