Gangster-turned-author Dave Courtney described his pain and how he did not want to “waste having a wicked life” in videos made before he took his own life at his home in Plumstead, an inquest heard.
Courtney, 64, who claimed to be an associate of 1960s gangland criminals the Kray twins, swapped an earlier life of crime for writing books in his later years.
He was found dead by his friend, actor Brendan McGirr, at his home on Chestnut Rise on October 22 2023, with a gunshot wound, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard.
Senior coroner Dr Julian Morris concluded after a short inquest on Thursday that he took his own life.
Detective Sergeant James Robinson earlier told the court about videos Courtney made in the months before his death.
In one of them he spoke about his rheumatoid arthritis and how he was “disguising a lot of pain”, the court heard.
“I’m having to hide the fact that I can’t get up and down the stairs and in and out of the car and I’m not enjoying it at the moment,” he said.
“That’s really it.
“I don’t want to go waste having a wicked life like I’ve had. Absolutely superb.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
A police investigation into his death concluded that there was “no evidence of third party involvement”, Mr Robinson said.
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