How the Gunns built their empire
In the first of a series of exclusive abridged extracts from his new book Hoods, journalist CARL FELLSTROM charts the rise of Colin Gunn and the Bestwood Cartel
DAVID and Colin Gunn grew up in Eastwood but when the opportunity arose to move to Bestwood, their mother grabbed the chance.
In part they were the clichéd by-products of a single-parent family, along with a brother and a sister.
One event in their formative years gives an early clue to the contradictions within them.
As youngsters they appeared in a local church magazine. A street robber had attacked a woman and made off with her purse. Colin and David gave chase and apprehended the man.
But at the same time as they were being have-a-go heroes, they had a reputation as bruisers in the school playground.
By the time they reached Padstow Comprehensive School, Colin Gunn was bully-in-chief, intimidating others with his cold, steely eyes.
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: The Stirlands' terrifying final moments - an extract from Hoods
By his teens, Colin was already carrying out burglaries on the estate and mixing with older people who were veterans of credit card and cheque fraud.
He was part of a gang run by the Dawes family, who later based themselves in Sutton-in-Ashfield, in north Notts, and was involved in cheque fraud worth thousands of pounds.
Colin, then in his late teens, received his first custodial sentence of six months.
By the early 1990s, now both in their mid-twenties, David and Colin were steadily clocking up convictions such as burglary, theft, handling stolen goods and violence.
Like other fledgling criminal gangs, they built up their enterprise by relying on the people they had grown up with and who they could trust.
All would become members of the Bestwood Cartel – a name coined by the gang itself. The brothers, too, were united.
One former associate said: "They looked after each other; they were pretty close in those days. David would be the only one who could get away with taking the piss out of Colin.
"Colin had this kind of compulsive obsessive fear thing about dirty ashtrays and fag ends and one stunt David would pull would be to fill up Colin's coat pockets in the pub with the contents of various ashtrays while he went off to the bog."
The Gunn brothers forged links with other criminal gangs while stepping up their activities in Bestwood, nearby Bulwell and Arnold.
Extreme violence
By the late 1990s, Colin Gunn was running a large criminal operation enforced by extreme violence. He was also beginning to use police officers extensively.
Some felt that the Gunns were looking after the estate in a perverse kind of way.
By 2001, such was Colin Gunn's reputation as a provider of good information that he was trailed by a police officer with a National Crime Squad background who wanted him to become a registered informant.
By this time Colin, who had been on steroids for more than a decade, was also using cocaine regularly – a combination which caused an escalation in his volatile behaviour.
One former associate said Gunn's favourite punishment was to have someone's hands held down while he smashed their knuckles with a hammer or baseball bat.
"Colin also used to get really paranoid about people looking at him when he went in the pubs. Some unfortunate would get a right pasting and sometimes they never knew why," the associate said.
According to former associates, Colin Gunn also had a penchant for teenage girls.
One woman, who fears for her life to this day, told me how she was first sought out by Gunn on a night out.
"The next thing I remember is waking up the next morning. He'd obviously drugged me," she said.
"And that's what would happen whenever I met him during those six weeks. He'd get me back to one of his flats and have sex with me while I didn't really know where I was."
One night Gunn tried to suffocate her, so she went to the police. She is now in witness protection.
"I know there's a bullet with my name on it," she said. "Sometimes I think I should just go back and take what's coming because I know they will find me."
Both Colin and David were capable of grandiose acts of compassion.
A number of people told me about regular incidents where Colin would pop cash into an envelope and card and post it to elderly people who were celebrating birthdays.
One year the brothers paid for a huge firework display on Guy Fawkes Night for all the community to enjoy.
These tales were not propagated by people who were part of the Cartel, these were genuine, law-abiding citizens who could see little wrong in the Gunn brothers.
More than that, people felt the Gunn brothers were doing the job the police should have been doing.
Colin became increasingly unstable and erratic. He would sometimes explode at the slightest thing and usually lashed out at the first person he saw, leaving others to pick up the pieces and wrap the broken bones.
His psychotic alter-ego was beginning to surface more frequently than his community-spirited, Robin Hood persona, and he was starting to believe in his own myth as a type of real-life Tony Montana in Scarface.
Colin Gunn made an ill-fated trip into the centre of Nottingham on a stag night in October 1998.
The group ended up at the Astoria nightclub, near the Broadmarsh Centre, and a huge fight erupted, ending with Colin and another Cartel member beating another man senseless.
The victim pursued GBH charges and apparently CCTV footage of the incident was held by the nightclub.
A warrant was issued for Gunn's arrest, but he used a contact to destroy the CCTV tapes.
At a later date he was able to call on a doctor who concluded Gunn's violence was caused by a reaction to prescription drugs.
Colin Gunn was given a few hundred hours' community service instead of a potential prison sentence of five years. He asked an imposter to complete it.
The same year, Colin and David's sister was given community service after punching a teacher in a dispute at her son's school.
Meanwhile, David Gunn was jailed for four years and nine months after brutally attacking a man who had dared to get into a row with his wife, Sandie.
Now Colin would have to run the Cartel without the support of his brother and without the stabilising influence that some of the Cartel believed David brought to Colin's decision-making.
He set about recruiting drug dealers who could negotiate their way through the tribal ganglands of The Meadows, St Ann's and Radford.
Having seen three members of the Gunn family convicted of criminal offences within a single year, the police were about to embark on an operation which, had it been followed through to its logical conclusion, might have halted David and Colin's growing influence in its tracks and perhaps saved lives.
The operation would be called Opal and it already had in its sights the very dealers Colin Gunn was recruiting.
But Colin was also working on an audacious plan that he hoped would protect the long-term future of the Cartel and their associates. Its success would eventually leave a trail straight back to his door, but for a time it would help the Cartel stay a step ahead of the police.
Copyright Carl Fellstrom©
96 Comments
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by fredbull
Thursday, October 13 2011, 6:57PM
“Bestwood Cartel – a name coined by the gang itself ???? what a load of rubbish
carl youve told so many lies its untrue! all your book is fiction, and also staments of events that did happen, but you have it down as other people? talk to somone who does know!”
by Justice will be served, Heavens Gates
Friday, March 19 2010, 10:33PM
“The clue is in the name, here is a man and his 'family' living up to his name, it's like he was destined to maime and torture. Spare a thought for all those who have suffered at the merciless punishment metered out by a madman. If he serves 15yrs the general public will be lucky. Where is justice. Bring back the chain gangs and allow people to experience justice. The truth is there is no justice this side of life...But be certain that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword, and one day there will be a day of reckoning that 'Mr Big' will not be able to payoff. Even the hardest, meanest will have to meet his maker and then you will experience the sum of all fears on that day when the innocent are at peace and the unrepentant, unremorseful and merciless shall NOT see heaven but be tortured everl asting torment and pay for every wrong thought and deed...thank God that one day justice will be served and that this is as sure as the tide and the time.”
by lorraine, midlands
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 10:12PM
“good luck to dave getting back to his own area where he belongs”
by lorraine, midlands
Tuesday, June 09 2009, 10:03PM
“i think that the gunns should be left a lone now.what right should the law have by keeping dave away from is own town and away from is own area where he has family .dave family need him as well .i know dave and he his a great guy.i do hope dave does move back to his area and he can be with his family and be all together..i do hope people leave the family alone.good luck to dave and family”
by cheryl, notts
Thursday, April 30 2009, 1:29PM
“very sad , all the lives ruined ,and lost i think that the young teens should realise that crime does not pay its prison or death. addiction and shame. the young hoods growing up now need to see that the lifes are important and stay away from so called gangters”
by chez, notts
Thursday, April 30 2009, 1:16PM
“i hope the young hodies can see this and no that crime does not pay. prison or death to those who take part .so sad that so many lives have been los t
to to someone who clearly have a drug shot someone in a pub. very sad”
by grant peck, lincoln
Tuesday, January 13 2009, 2:19PM
“i moved away from nottingham 4 years ago and i never now how much of a man colin and david was i am m8s with 1 of his relatives but they never spooken about him he is doing what the police cant do in nottingham and stop crime he might have asked for what he got but he is behind bars now and gun crime has gone down my a few percent”
by Steve, Notts, Notts
Wednesday, December 31 2008, 3:42AM
“The fact that the Gunns were viscious criminals is not in dispute - although there are a few people who appear to be in denial. What is worse is that only the tip of the iceberg has been lopped off in terms of bent coppers. Coppers who would not venture onto the Bestwood Estate, turned a blind eye, were on the payroll, used and abused their power to assist criminals. This just proves that the good people of this world are on their own. The problem is, if they decide to "deal" with their own problems and those of their friends and loved ones rather than involve the police, then they become just like the Gunns. I do not care about the unemployed benefit funded criminal lowlife who make up the cheerleading party on that wretched estate (from where Harold Shipman came). They think they are something special, but every city has a ghetto of deliberately unemployed tracksuit and bling wearing criminals who think that being a single parent is a career choice and a second child is a promotion leading to a payrise. They are no different to their counterparts in Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield etc. We do not rely on them to keep us safe in our part of Nottinghamshire. We do rely upon the police to keep us safe from them however, and without an honest police force, this lowlife can march into other areas of Notts and act as they want without fear (never the other notorious estates though). The rule of law is breaking down, but this criminal minority will have to one day realise that they are just that - a minority. Easy to find as they rarely venture off the maroon brick collective of hovels, predictable in their actions in that they are always in the pub watching football on widescreen, predictable in that they will threaten violence, and even carry it out if there are sufficient numbers. They won't venture into St Annes, Hyson Green, the Meadows, Clifton and rile their counterparts as they will always be met with violence returned, and likewise will the yobs of the above not venture into Worstwood. It is a simple fact that the majority of crime is commited by a minority of people. That means that when it comes down to it, and measures have to be taken to restore the breakdown of law and order, these people are a minority who can be easily found and dealt with - if not by the police because they have lost control of the streets, then the soldiers who are enforcing martial law, and if not the Soldiers, then the masses of the law abiding majority marching to restore their country to order. That battle, if the rule of law is broken and there is no such thing as a fair fight, human rights, geneva convention, police and criminal evidence act, will be a short battle. There will be no arrest and bail the same day, no community orders, no probation, no drug treatment and testing orders. I am sure there are a handful of firearms concealed on the estate, but every house in Mapperly, Arnold, Gedling, Carlton, Burton Joyce etc has at least one garden fork in the shed. That is a lot of garden forks. Remember that the breakdown of law and the march of the masses could be set off by just one more murder, one more beating, one more old person robbed, just one more lowlife in a tracksuit behaving like his peers, and thinking its ok because of his postcode and the names he can quote as associates. Now the fear is lifting, people are obviously more inclined to report crime and offer information about crime.
I will say this about the breakdown of law and order. It may not be another "Rhys Evans" case that sets off civil unrest. It could be the recession, a terrorist attack too far, more unfair taxes, anything could set it off - see what happened in Athens recently, but the criminal fraternity should realise that the "nice people" will take an opportunity to rid their area of all threats in order to ensure their own safety, and if the lowlife, predictably set off on a crime rampage whilst the police are overwhelmed, then”
by Call It A Day, Living Room on the fence
Monday, December 29 2008, 3:25AM
“First and foremost rest in peace both Jamie and Marvyn. I bet your spirits are looking down on us and can not believe the aftermath? It was a true tradegy. It does offer a reason as to why people (your friends and family) are fighting and defending both of your honours. I never knew either of you but have spoke in your memory to two individuals that I know knew you both and spoke very highly of you the pair of you.
The people that are judging you both who who have not met you should be rended with the label of scum by judging book blah blah,sucked in by a poor portrayal by the media and hearsay and ultimately spat back out.
We are all aware that the media is as corrupt as the Nottinghamshire Police and will mislead and disfigure perceptions to create the very responses I have just been reading. It is adding fuel to the fire and not allowing this chapter to come to much needed close. The Reopening of old wounds. Time is made redundant as the healing process will never take place if this continues.
I have followed the story and it disturbs me greatly on many levels.
Evidence tells us no lies and presents us with the truth but offers no motives. I do not agree with violence or any other activities the cartel took part in however it seems people form attachments to people that fought for the underdog such as Dave and Colin making gestures to their beloved community (however distorted you may see it, the fact of the matter is they still have alot of respect from alot of the community they gave too or took from which ever way you see it).
Time eventually revealed a more sinicister side driven by reputation, money and ultimately greed. Greed comes at a price and unfortunately this is an unknown figure that has led to the loss of souls, mourning, sitting in cells and those trying to cope on the outside getting to grips of it all.
Reputations take years to build however can be deminished with the pulling of a trigger or the penatration of knife through a vital organ. Leaving people asking 'What was this all for?' and 'Was it really worth it?'.
The actions of these men (Bestwood Cartel) was well known and it seemed as I grew up everyone was a member, or knew someone that was member and gained status through mentioning the much feared family name of Gun. I beleived there was at least 100 of you, everyone used the name. I have since learnt that these individuals use the name and yet had no affiliation.
People can call the Cartel Scum and Low life as that is their opinion and they are intitled to it.
Do not begrudge the family though for defending there love ones. Trying to persuade their opinions will only cause more division and hate which is not good for anyone. Those sceptics of the Bestwood Cartel antics know a very biased opinion of events and not the whole truth, you have taken isolated incidents and encounters and began painting a picture before gaining further knowledge of your subject matter.
I am glad there reign has come to an end however since spoke to people who fear the streets of Bestwood now, as they no longer feel safe leaving their front door. What a world we live in?
It is sad however true that the removal of the cartel from society will not prevent these crimes from being commited, just allow more people to fight for supremacy as the battle exists. The removal of the criminals does not remove the demand for drugs. People will say the cartel's removal from society will save lives but the reality of it all is simply; it will endanger more peoples lives.
As for the idiots that just want to come and take pop shots at the family of the cartel with their comments should have better things to do with their time instead angering the families that are constantly being reminded of their love ones wrong doings. These idiots that feel they have a score to settle with the cartel and will do so by saying/stating a comment, round of applause for stupity as it repeatedly reveals ”
by Paul Bennett, Arnold. Nottingham
Sunday, December 28 2008, 1:46AM
“You got some flowers and then you call them gentlemen!!
I live in Arnold, as well and I hate this vile Cartel. They shot the town where I do things in, and killed Marion Bates, an upstanding citizen. If you were a guy, I would have said that you'd got a load of balls for saying what you wrote. So whats gonna happen then? You gonna tell that kid in the pushchair to love Colin as a hero when they reach age?”