DAVE Courtney met his wife while she was working in the nightclub he owned in the 1980s, before their marriage hit the rocks in 2004.
The ex-gangster, 64, was yesterday found dead in his bed after shooting himself at his home in Plumstead, South London.
Scott Hornby – The SunDave Courtney, pictured in 2013, has died aged 64[/caption]
Paul Edwards – The SunDave with wife Jenny Pinto before their marriage hit the rocks[/caption]
Dave with his wife and her sister as part of an act he was promoting in 1993
The SunPolice outside Dave’s home on Sunday[/caption]
His family said he had lived an “incredible” life, having left life as a crime kingpin to become a TV actor and author – writing six books and appearing in films and documentaries.
But ultimately Dave is said to have been unable to cope with the “pain” of living the lifestyle he chose.
His illustrious life included marrying Jennifer Lucrea Pinto, known as “JennyBean”, after they met at one of his Fitness Centre clubs in the late 1980s.
Jennifer is understood to have been an aspiring rapper at the time, and caught the eye of the notorious hardman.
But their marriage ended amid a row over an alleged lesbian affair with the ex-lover of a Eastenders actor, a court heard.
Dave was accused of assaulting Ms Pinto at his Camelot Castle home in June 2004.
He told a trial at Inner London Crown Court that he was in a three-way sexual relationship with Mrs Pinto and a second woman.
Dave also told police the woman had been a “wedding present” from his wife.
But he claimed to jurors the two women had been planning to run off together when an altercation broke out between he and Mrs Pinto at their home.
Their then five-year-old daughter is said to have been downstairs at the time.
Following a lengthy trial, he was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2012.
Courtney is said to have had two daughters, while his stepson Genson, 22, was shot dead in 2011.
He was murdered by his uncle David Pinto, 36, outside his girlfriend’s flat in Greenwich, London.
Getaway driver Robert Bleach was also jailed for life for his role in the killing.
It comes as Dave’s family today revealed he took his own life after deciding to “stop the ride”.
A family statement given to The Sun read: “On 22nd October 2023, Dave made the decision to ‘stop the ride.’
“He had lived an incredible, colourful rock ’n’ roll life in which he touched the hearts of so many.
“The physical pain of living the lifestyle he chose, especially due to the pain of both cancer and arthritis in his later years, became too much.
“So, rather than be a burden to his family and friends, he chose to ‘stop the ride’ and take his own way out.
“In his own immortal words ‘stop the ride, I want to get off’.”
A lodger discovered the notorious hardman with a pillow over his face, which would have muffled the sound.
His death came just hours after he spent the day with friends watching Charlton Athletic thump Reading 4-0 in a League One match.
The flamboyant former crime kingpin, who wrote six books and appeared in films and documentaries, shared snaps on Facebook.
One pal said: “They stayed up until 4am drinking and went to bed. At around 11am his lodger and friend Brendan went to look in Dave’s bedroom because it was very quiet.
“He found Dave in bed with a pillow placed across his face and he had been shot in the head.
“The first impression was that he had taken his own life. But the police have to be certain and are investigating.’’
The Metropolitan Police said the death is currently being treated as unexpected and is under investigation.
GettyDave at the “Once Upon A Time In London” premiere at Troxy on April 15, 2019[/caption]
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Movember, www.uk.movember.com
Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
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