Albert Dimes

Born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire to an Italian father and Scottish mother, he moved to London with his family and grew up in Little Italy, London.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ewcDQAAQBAJ&dq=%22albert+dimes%22+%22grew+up%22&pg=PT148 | title=London's Underworld: Three Centuries of Vice and Crime| isbn=9781911042037| last1=Linnane| first1=Fergus| date=2016-01-28}} He went on to run Soho's nightclubs and bars with Antonio (Babe) Mancini and Pas Papa (Bert Marsh) also being involved in bookmaking and loansharking during the 1940s and 1950s.

In July 1941 Dimes was convicted with Joseph Collette of attacking Edward Fletcher at a Soho Club in Wardour Street. The Recorder noted that the incident took place "under the shadow of a graver offence. One man had lost his life and another man was under sentence of death." He dismissed any prejudice against second generation Italians. Harry Capocci was acquitted and Dimes was bound over for three years.The Times, Fight In Soho Club, 22 July 1941 In the same incident, Harry "Little Hubby" Distleman was stabbed to death by Antonio Mancini.The Times, Murder In Soho Club Man Sentenced To Death 5 July 1941

In August 1955, Dimes was arrested with rival gangster Jack Spot during a knife fight in Soho. Neither man was charged. As a result of his arrest, Spot's power in the city's underworld declined. {{Cite book |last=Kinsella |first=Ray |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Bebop_Scene_in_London_s_Soho_1945_19/9oedEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Albert+Dimes,+nightclubs+bars+soho&pg=PA67&printsec=frontcover |title=The Bebop Scene in London's Soho, 1945-1950: Post-war Britain’s First Youth Subculture |date=2022-11-23 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-031-05555-3 |language=en}}The battle almost spread to politics when Dimes tried to use National Labour Party members against rivals Bud Flanagan and Spot, Jewish gangsters involved in funding the 43 Group.Graham Macklin, Very Deeply Dyed in Black, IB Tauris, 2007, p. 53 Although this is disputed by Bert Rossi a close friend and opposition gang member of Jack Spot.{{cite book |title=Bert 'Battles' Rossi britain's Oldest Gnagland Boss |chapter=Chapter 10 |isbn=978-0-9956548-0-8}}

In 1966, Dimes helped to arrange a conference between New York mafiosi and the Corsican Francisci brothers, apparently regarding investing in London casinos.{{cite web|url=http://www.bunker8.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/orgcrim/potter.htm |title=Organized Crime in London: A Comparative Perspective |access-date=November 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526224919/http://www.bunker8.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/orgcrim/potter.htm |archive-date=May 26, 2011 }} An associate of Charlie Richardson, his presence in Soho delayed the Kray twins from moving into the area for several years.

Dimes died in November 1972 at his home on Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham, South London from cancer.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lGVIn9NhmcAC&dq=%22albert+dimes%22+%22cancer%22&pg=PT198 |title=Gangland Bosses: The Lives of Jack Spot and Billy Hill |author1=James Morton |author2=Jerry Parker |author3=Gerry Parker |date=2012-03-01 |access-date=2016-05-28|isbn=9781405515610 }}{{cite web|url=http://whatculture.com/film/10-legendary-movie-criminals.php/3 |title=10 Legendary Movie Criminals – Page 3 |website=Whatculture.com |date=2015-03-17 |access-date=2016-05-28}} His funeral was held on 20 November 1972 in Beckenham.{{cite web|url=http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sir-stanley-baker-at-italian-albert-dimes-funeral-49081607.html |title=Sir Stanley Baker At Italian Albert Dimes Funeral Stock Photo, Royalty Free Image: 49081607 |website=Alamy.com |date=1972-11-20 |access-date=2016-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215133821/http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sir-stanley-baker-at-italian-albert-dimes-funeral-49081607.html |archive-date=2016-02-15 }} The Kray Twins sent a wreath that read "To a fine gentleman – From Reg & Ron Kray".{{cite web |url=http://www.newsprints.co.uk/view/0/19416538/elib_asscmmglpict000004901963_jpg |title=Newspaper Photo Sales Service: View |website=NewsPrints.co.uk |date= |access-date=2016-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224092920/http://www.newsprints.co.uk/view/0/19416538/elib_asscmmglpict000004901963_jpg |archive-date=2016-02-24 |url-status=dead }} The wreath was reportedly destroyed by friends of the family who believed the association brought shame.

The character Johnny Bannion, played by Stanley Baker in the 1960 film The Criminal, was reportedly claimed by director Joseph Losey to be partly based on Dimes.{{cite web|url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/your-favourite-british-films/5030-criminal-1960-a.html |title=British Film Forum |website=Britmovie.co.uk |access-date=2016-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424132213/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/your-favourite-british-films/5030-criminal-1960-a.html |archive-date=2016-04-24 }}

• Morton, James and Parker, Jerry. Gangland Bosses: The Lives of Jack Spot and Billy Hill. United Kingdom: Stratford Books. {{ISBN|0-316-85991-5}}
• McDonald, Brian. Gangs of London: One hundred Years of Mob Violence. Milo Books. Has an authoritative chapter on the Sabini Gang.

{{Reflist}}

• Devito, Carlo. Encyclopedia of International Organized Crime. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. {{ISBN|0-8160-4848-7}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.madfrankiefraser.co.uk/viewpoints/views9.htm |title=MadFrankieFraser.co.uk – Viewpoints: The Hitmen |access-date=2006-10-10 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619001635/http://www.madfrankiefraser.co.uk/viewpoints/views9.htm |archive-date=2012-06-19 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimes, Albert}}

Category:Scottish gangsters

Category:Criminals from London

Category:1914 births

Category:1972 deaths

Category:Scottish people of Italian descent

Category:People from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire

Category:American Mafia