Born Gangster
Jimmy Tippett Junior

Jimmy Tippett Junior was always destined to be a gangster. Born into criminal aristocracy in South London, he grew up surrounded by the most infamous villains in British history. His dad, Jimmy Tippett Senior, was also a gangster. Known as the “Governor of Lewisham” from the 60s to the 80s, he ruled his manor with an iron fist, winning every bare-knuckled fight he got into on the cobbles. From an early age Jimmy knew he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps, so he too embarked on a life of crime. He first got arrested when he was 12 and, by the time he was 16, he owned a gun and was visiting Reggie Kray in prison.

Born Gangster takes readers on a journey deep into the heart of gangland culture - from the mean manors of South London, to the gloomy underbelly of Hull and the glitzy, sun-drenched millionaires’ playgrounds of the Costa Del Crime, with a host of explosive stories along the way.

Spanning four decades, Jimmy’s anecdotes are gritty and rich in violence, yet told in a unique voice which is often humorous. From his incredible childhood, to his involvement in drug deals, robberies, bloody fights and dodgy scams, there isn’t much that Jimmy hasn’t seen or done in his life. He’s been incarcerated in Britain’s toughest jails, mixed with the hardest crooks of gangland London, worked alongside a gangster connected to the Mafia and enjoyed affairs with a string of models, porn stars and celebrities.

Jimmy has no regrets about his life and makes no apologies for his crimes. He was not forced into criminal activity by his father. Moreover, it was a path he chose. He accepted the consequences of his actions when caught and is now on a new journey as he attempts to stay on the right side of the law. Warts and all, this is his story.