Jimmy Moody
Encyclopedia
James Alfred 'Jimmy' Moody was a British gangster and hitman whose career spanned more than four decades and included run-ins with Jack Spot, Billy Hill
, "Mad" Frankie Fraser
, the Krays
, the Richardsons
and the Provisional IRA.
Moody was the number one enforcer for the Richardsons, did freelance "work" for the Krays and became one of the most feared criminals to emerge from the London underworld - all before he reached the age of 30. In the 1970s, Moody joined a team of criminals to form the Chainsaw Gang, who went on to become that decade's most successful armed robbers.
Moody was convicted of manslaughter
in 1967 for the killing of a young merchant navy steward. He was released in 1972, however he was sent in 1979 on remand
to Brixton Prison
to await trial for armed robbery. His cellmate was Provisional IRA member Gerard Tuite
. In 1980 the two men escaped and went on the run. Soon, his murderous skills were being put to use as he became a paid hitman for the Provos' against their own. Moody did not care for politics, just a paid job and was never a member of the IRA or a republican sympathiser.
By the late 1980s, Moody realised he was in danger of overstaying his welcome in Ireland and, inevitably, the lure of the London persuaded him to return home. He believed his reputation as a hired killer would keep him one step ahead of trouble - and the law. But the London he returned to was a very different place. Huge drug deals - mainly involving ecstasy and cocaine - rather than armed robbery were financing many criminals' lavish lifestyles. The stakes were higher and so were the profits. By the early 1990s, Moody's list of enemies read like a who's who of criminals from both sides of the water. Then there were the police, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
and the British security services
. Moody was shot dead in June 1993 in the Royal Hotel (now Royal Inn on the Park) in Hackney
, East London by an unknown assassin.
Moody's family still remain a well-known close family among East London, his wife Val lives in Hullbridge, Essex, a beloved place of Moody's when he was on the run. Janine and her two children live in Kent, a much better scene for the children to live than among the crime-rife life of East London. The apple of Jimmy's eye, Chayce was perhaps the only person ever to make Jimmy think about his life. Jimmy's son Jason also lives in Essex with his three children.
Billy Hill (gangster)
Billy Hill was a famous British gangster and criminal mastermind from the 1920s through to the 1960s.-Biography:...
, "Mad" Frankie Fraser
Frankie Fraser
Francis Davidson Fraser is a former British criminal and gang member who spent 42 years in prison for numerous violent offences.-Early life:...
, the Krays
Kray twins
Reginald "Reggie" Kray and his twin brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s...
, the Richardsons
The Richardson Gang
The Richardson Gang was a 1960s group of criminals in South London, England. Less well remembered than their rivals the Krays, they nevertheless had a reputation at their peak as being some of London's most infamous and sadistic gangsters...
and the Provisional IRA.
Moody was the number one enforcer for the Richardsons, did freelance "work" for the Krays and became one of the most feared criminals to emerge from the London underworld - all before he reached the age of 30. In the 1970s, Moody joined a team of criminals to form the Chainsaw Gang, who went on to become that decade's most successful armed robbers.
Moody was convicted of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
in 1967 for the killing of a young merchant navy steward. He was released in 1972, however he was sent in 1979 on remand
Detention of suspects
The detention of suspects is the process of keeping a person who has been arrested in a police-cell, remand prison or other detention centre before trial or sentencing. One criticism of pretrial detention is that eventual acquittal can be a somewhat hollow victory, in that there is no way to...
to Brixton Prison
Brixton (HM Prison)
HM Prison Brixton is a local men's prison, located in Brixton area of the London Borough of Lambeth, in inner-South London, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
to await trial for armed robbery. His cellmate was Provisional IRA member Gerard Tuite
Gerard Tuite
Gerard Tuite was a senior member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Upon his escape from Brixton prison during the Hunger Strike in the winter of 1980, he was declared the most wanted man in Britain...
. In 1980 the two men escaped and went on the run. Soon, his murderous skills were being put to use as he became a paid hitman for the Provos' against their own. Moody did not care for politics, just a paid job and was never a member of the IRA or a republican sympathiser.
By the late 1980s, Moody realised he was in danger of overstaying his welcome in Ireland and, inevitably, the lure of the London persuaded him to return home. He believed his reputation as a hired killer would keep him one step ahead of trouble - and the law. But the London he returned to was a very different place. Huge drug deals - mainly involving ecstasy and cocaine - rather than armed robbery were financing many criminals' lavish lifestyles. The stakes were higher and so were the profits. By the early 1990s, Moody's list of enemies read like a who's who of criminals from both sides of the water. Then there were the police, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
and the British security services
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
. Moody was shot dead in June 1993 in the Royal Hotel (now Royal Inn on the Park) in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, East London by an unknown assassin.
Moody's family still remain a well-known close family among East London, his wife Val lives in Hullbridge, Essex, a beloved place of Moody's when he was on the run. Janine and her two children live in Kent, a much better scene for the children to live than among the crime-rife life of East London. The apple of Jimmy's eye, Chayce was perhaps the only person ever to make Jimmy think about his life. Jimmy's son Jason also lives in Essex with his three children.