Albert Dimes
Albert Dimes (1914–1972, St Pancras, London) was an English criminal and enforcer from Clerkenwell, east London.
In July 1941 Dimes was convicted with Joseph Collette of attacking Edward Fletcher at a Soho Club in Wardour Street. The Recorder noted that the incident took place "under the shadow of a graver offence. One man had lost his life and another man was under sentence of death." He dismissed any prejudice against second generation Italians. Harry Capocci was acquitted and Dimes was bound over for three years.[1] In the same incident, Harry "Little Hubby" Distleman was stabbed to death by Antonio Mancini.[2]
In August 1955, Dimes was arrested with rival gangster Jack Spot during a knife fight in Soho. Neither man was charged. As a result of his arrest, Spot's power in the city's underworld declined. The battle almost spread to politics when Dimes tried to use National Labour Party members against rivals Bud Flanagan and Spot, Jewish gangsters involved in funding the 43 Group.[3]
In 1966, Dimes helped to arrange a conference between New York mafiosi and the Corsican Francisci brothers, apparently regarding investing in London casinos.[4] An associate of Charlie Richardson, his presence in Soho delayed the Kray twins from moving into the area for several years.
The character Johnny Bannion, played by Stanley Baker in the 1960 film The Criminal, was reportedly claimed by director Joseph Losey to be partly based on Dimes.[5]
Further reading
- Morton, James and Parker, Jerry. Gangland Bosses: The Lives of Jack Spot and Billy Hill. United Kingdom: Stratford Books. ISBN 0-316-85991-5
References
- Devito, Carlo. Encyclopedia of International Organized Crime. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. ISBN 0-8160-4848-7
External links
- MadFrankieFraser.co.uk - Viewpoints: The Hitmen at the Wayback Machine (archived June 19, 2012)
