Once the UK's most wanted man, Ronnie Knight was imprisoned for his part in the 1983 London Security Express heist of [pound]7 million ([pound]26 million today).
Lenny McLean's life as a bare-knuckle fighter and notorious East End figure unfolds through previously untold stories compiled by co-author Peter Gerrard. This collection offers fans a deeper insight into McLean's adventures and character, showcasing his loyalty to friends and the dangers of crossing him. His inspirational journey, marked by a tragic end in 1998 due to cancer, is now enriched with anecdotes that were left out of the original narrative, ensuring his legacy continues to resonate with admirers for generations to come.
Lenny McLean was one of the deadliest bare-knuckle fighters Britain has ever seen. He had dear, powerful friends, but he also had terrible enemies. So much so that he has two bullet wounds in his back, and has been stabbed repeatedly--always from behind. Lenny, however, is also a warm, grizzly bear of a man, whose main weakness is an overwhelming desire to put the welfare of his mates ahead of his own well-being. In this autobiography he tells of how the mafia flew him to New York to take on their greatest bare-knuckle boxer in a multi-million pound illicit challenge bout. The Mafia's man lasted less than three minutes. When the IRA fronted up a London gang in a money-laundering scam, Lenny was brought in to intimidate the terrorists. The IRA, not surprisingly, backed off. Lenny's most serious trial came when he was accused of murder. Fighting to prove his innocence against a minimum sentence of 25 years, Lenny never gave up, and went on to be found not guilty. After deciding to retire from the violent life, Len turned his hand to acting, having parts in The Fifth Element and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Born in East London in 1949, Lenny McLean grew up in an area that had been ravaged by the Second World War. Although money was scarce and fighting was commonplace, a camaraderie and deep sense of honour and respect remained.