Following Duffy's death, characters from Middlesbrough’s seedy underworld vied for the top criminal spot left by Duffy. Around half a dozen men looked to muscle in and fill the shoes of the feared crime boss. A former boxer and bouncer from South Bank, Duffy died in 1991 after being stabbed during a street brawl in Marton Road, Middlesbrough. The ex-boxer and bouncer was shot on two separate occasions and once had petrol poured over him. But in August 1991, Duffy’s life came to a violent end when he was stabbed during a brutal street brawl in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, aged just 26. Listened to a podcast there on Lee Duffy after reading here about him. The author Jamie Boyle Actually hero worships him. The murder of Viv Graham, who was shot outside a Wallsend pub 26 years ago, remains one of Tyneside's most talked about unsolved crimes.

During the trial, more of Duffy's violent past was uncovered including games of "Russian roulette" with a loaded firearm. Allison was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter and it was ruled that he had acted in self-defence. Boyle was told directly by Duffy’s family not to write the book. They pleaded with him. Duff’s brother Lawrie (who I knew and has since died) was devastated as it was just raking up a painful and traumatic past for a few quid. Boyle end up writing a couple of Duffy books so you know what he’s all about morally when the family of a dead man were reaching out asking him not to do the book. And he ends up doing a few plus a DVD.

Who was Lee Duffy?

In August 1991 Duffy’s life came to a violent end when he was stabbed during a brutal street brawl in Marton Road, Middlesbrough aged just 26. Before his death, Duffy was shot on two separate occasions and once had petrol poured over him. But in August 1991, his life came to a violent end when he was stabbed during a brutal street brawl in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, aged just 26.

Duffy was one of the most feared hard men in the region and wreaked havoc until his death at the age of 26 in 1991.Written by close family friend Steve Wraith, the book features unseen court documents, statements and interview recordings to explore the notorious family's past, and police's attempts to bring them down, Chronicle Live reports. The court heard heard movie-like tales of Duffy's violent ways with details of his gun-toting exploits. Duffy had played "Russian roulette" with a loaded revolver, declaring himself "invincible". Ex-boxer and bouncer Lee Duffy would be well into his 50s now had he not died at the hands of a man he once called a friend. He had previously survived two shootings and an attempt to turn him into a human torch. It was at the hands of a man who he once called a friend that Duffy lost his life. David Allison and Duffy had exchanged words at a blues party in the Afro Caribbean Centre.

A former Teesside top cop will be lifting the lid on notorious criminal Lee Duffy in the last book documenting his life. Duffy and Sayers first met as youngsters in Low Newton Remand Centre in 1982. There is also a photograph of the South Bank gangster, which has apparently never been seen by the public before.It would have been hard work being our mam' - Stephen Sayers pays tribute to his devoted mum Yvonne I’ve spoken to people who knew him as a child and he would often be seen walking around his estate late on a school night because he never wanted to go home. Like most people he could argue till he was blue in the face but if he was proved wrong then he would always apologise and admit that he was wrong." Read More Related Articles The book will be released in August and will include exclusive insight from former Cleveland Police Detective Inspector, Ray Morton, as well as school friends and former underworld figures. We spent three days talking through the walls before we became firm friends and as the years progressed we became extremely close, not just Lee and I, Lee became close to my brothers too."

Up until the age of about 14, Lee was severely bullied himself and he’d often run home crying his eyes out. He had a really troubled childhood, he had a father whose behaviour would just not be acceptable in the modern day. He was a heavy drinker who would beat him and Lee had many family problems. Read More Related Articles The story of one of Teesside's most controversial and feared figures has been documented in books and short films over the years and in 2020 director Paul Suggitt released Lee Duffy: Too Far Too Soon - a documentary which chronicles his life. However, a day later, Allison called his dad and told him: "I think I've killed Lee Duffy". He handed himself in and was arrested and charged with murder. It adds: "Lee did have regrets in life. He loved his mam dearly and he was ashamed of what he had put his mother through over the years. A Teesside man has been cast as hardman Lee Duffy in a new film based on the life of a notorious North-east gangster.

I never met Viv but his story is legendary," said Gary. "It is going to be an honour portraying him in the film. I have never done any acting before, but I hope this film does well and it leads to other opportunities." Prior to his violent death in 1991, the ex-boxer and bouncer had already survived three alleged attempts on his life - he was shot on two occasions and once had petrol poured over him.