The Richardson Gang

The Kray Twins, who controlled the city's criminal underworld in the middle of the 20th century, are without a doubt the most infamous gangsters in London. However, even at their most powerful, they were not impenetrable. The Richardson Gang was the thorn in their side that they had to deal with on a constant basis.

This South London-based gang, led by brothers Charlie and Eddie Richardson, had a dreadful reputation for severe sadism, cruelty, and torture. They used these tactics to defend their criminal empire, which was built mostly on fraud, protection rackets, and drug selling.

In reference to the fact that Charlie Richardson provided the victim with a new shirt when they were returned home because their own clothes would have been stained with blood, receiving a beating from the Richardsons was known as "taking a shirt from Charlie." The gang's standard methods include anchoring the victim to the ground, shocking them with electricity while they are naked, and chopping off their toes with bolt cutters.

Other notable members of the Richardson Gang included George Cornell, who was killed by Ronnie Kray inside the Blind Beggar, and "Mad" Frankie Fraser, whose preferred form of correction entailed ripping teeth out with pliers. In 1966, the Richardson Gang was disbanded with the arrest of the two brothers and eleven other members on separate counts. Following what became known as the "torture trial" in the British media, they received lengthy prison terms.