The Krays were Britain’s most infamous and notorious criminals of the 20th century. They gained notoriety through their violent and ruthless criminal activities in London’s East End during the 1950s and 1960s. Born in 1933 in East London, identical twins Ronald “Ronnie” Kray and Reginald “Reggie” Kray became leaders of a gang that controlled the criminal underworld of the East End in the 1960s.
The twins were notorious for their extreme violence, which included brutal beatings, torture, and murder. They ran a protection racket, extorted money from businesses, and committed armed robberies, among other criminal activities. The Krays were also involved in the nightclub scene and were known to socialize with celebrities and politicians.
The Kray twins were born in 1933 in Hoxton, a working-class area in East London, and grew up in a large, close-knit family. They were identical twins, and from an early age, they were inseparable. Growing up in the gritty streets of East London, the Krays learned to fend for themselves, and they quickly became known as tough kids who could handle themselves in a fight.
Their father, Charles Kray, was a violent man who was frequently absent from their lives. He spent much of his time in and out of prison, leaving their mother, Violet, to raise the boys and their elder brother, Charlie, alone. Despite the absence of their father, the Krays were raised in a close-knit family, and they were fiercely loyal to one another.
As children, the Krays were known to get into fights with other kids in the neighborhood. They quickly gained a reputation for their violent temperaments and their willingness to use their fists to get what they wanted. Their mother, Violet, was determined to keep her sons out of trouble, but she struggled to control their behavior.
In their teenage years, the Krays became involved in the criminal underworld of London. They started out as small-time crooks, stealing from local shops and committing petty crimes. But they soon graduated to more serious offenses, such as armed robbery and protection rackets. Their reputation for violence and intimidation grew, and they soon became feared by their rivals in the criminal underworld.
Reggie was the elder of the two and was considered the more level-headed and calculating of the twins. Ronnie, on the other hand, was the more volatile and unpredictable of the two, prone to fits of rage and violence. From an early age, the twins were involved in petty crimes, such as theft and vandalism, but it wasn’t until they became involved in the world of boxing that their criminal activities began to escalate.
The twins used their connections in the boxing world to build a criminal empire, which included extortion, robbery, and protection rackets. They also established relationships with other notorious criminals, such as the Richardson Gang, to expand their criminal activities. By the mid-1960s, the Krays had become the undisputed kings of London’s criminal underworld, feared by all who crossed them.
Their reign of terror eventually came to an end when they were both arrested and sentenced to life in prison for murder in 1969. The Krays’ story continues to fascinate people to this day, and their legacy has been immortalized in books, films, and television shows. Their brutal and ruthless approach to crime, coupled with their larger-than-life personalities, has cemented their place in British criminal history as two of the most infamous criminals of all time.
Despite their criminal activities, the Krays were also known for their charm and charisma. They were handsome young men who dressed well and knew how to make an impression. They used their charm to build up a network of contacts and associates, which would later help them in their criminal enterprises.
Overall, the early life of the Kray Twins was marked by poverty, violence, and a lack of parental guidance. But it was also characterized by a deep bond between the brothers, a bond that would later make them a formidable criminal force in London’s underworld.
The Krays’ reign of terror began in the 1950s when they formed a gang called “The Firm.” They quickly gained a reputation for their violent tactics, which included attacking anyone who stood in their way. They also had a strict code of conduct that was enforced with brutal force. The twins’ empire grew, and they became the most feared gangsters in London.
In 1968, the Krays were arrested for murder and sentenced to life in prison. Their empire crumbled without their leadership, and many of their associates turned on each other to avoid prosecution. The Krays’ legacy continued after their imprisonment, as they became legends in the criminal underworld and the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries.
The Krays’ story is one of violence, power, and corruption. They used their intimidation tactics to gain control of the criminal underworld and were feared by many. Their legacy lives on, and their story continues to fascinate and horrify people to this day. Despite the gruesome nature of their crimes, the Krays will always be remembered as two of Britain’s most notorious criminals, whose chilling aura of fear remains unparalleled in the country’s underworld.
