GANGSTER Dave Courtney has avoided a prison sentence after a Bristol judge heard the criminal turned-author had taken a new direction in life

Reformed GANGSTER Dave Courtney has avoided a prison sentence after a Bristol judge heard the criminal turned-author had taken a new direction in life.
Courtney, 49, author of a number of best-selling true crime books, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday afternoon to admit a charge of possessing ammunition - a single bullet – without a firearms certificate.
But after Judge Ticehurst heard Courtney, from Plumstead, south London, had the round in his possession for a prop in a stage show, in which he encourages wayward youths to keep on the straight and narrow, he let him off with an 18-month conditional discharge.
Courtney, who claims to have had links with notorious criminal siblings the Kray brothers, has a long list of antecedents including affray and theft – all of which are chronicled in his numerous books.
But Courtney's counsel Donal McGuire told the judge his client, who has also starred in various movies and documentaries, now spends his days raising cash for community centres and lecturing would-be crooks with his mantra "crime doesn't pay".
Prosecutor Simon Morgan told the court Courtney was pulled over by police on October 29, 2007, in Lewins Mead, in the city centre, because the red BMW he was in had the illegal licence plate BADBOY1.
Officers searched Courtney and his vehicle and found the live ammo in his pocket, as well as a number of other prop weapons in the boot.
Mr Morgan said: "He told officers it was for a show. He displayed these as part of his performance. He was taken straight into custody where he said it was blank ammunition.
"He was extremely surprised to learn it was in fact live ammo. The officer tells me his surprise was in fact very genuine.
"But the simple point is, a man with his record, he should know better."