celebrity gangster-turned-author has been banned from the road after being caught more than one-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit

David Courtney

A celebrity gangster-turned-author has been banned from the road after being caught more than one-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit.

David Courtney, 52, was pulled over on the M6 in the early hours.

He was driving a borrowed Vauxhall Vectra after his wife, the rapper JennyBean, had taken his car following an argument, a court heard.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, told Macclesfield magistrates court that Courtney had been spotted travelling southbound on the M6 in excess of 70mph.

Courtney, who was alone, was pulled over near Knutsford services and spoken to by officers.

A roadside breath test proved positive so he was arrested and taken to a police station in Middlewich.

There he gave two samples of breath, the lowest of which was 53 microgrammes of alcohol, in 100ml of breath, more than one and a half times the legal limit of 35.

Stuart Page, defending, said Courtney had a domestic dispute and his wife had taken all his belongings, including his car.

He spoke to one of his friends who owns a car hire company, who agreed to lend him the Vectra. He said he then drove to Chorley in Lancashire to see some friends and whilst talking to them, he had a couple of drinks.

He said he thought he was below the limit and OK to drive at the time of the offence on December 22.

Courtney, of Chestnut Rise, Plumstead, London, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

He has a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2006, meaning he was subject to a minimum driving ban of three years.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay £40 costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

Courtney, is an ex-London gangster well known for his friendships with other hard men, such as the Kray twins, which saw him dubbed ‘the yellow pages of the underworld’.

He previously worked as a debt collector and claims he has been shot, stabbed and had his nose bitten off.

He also boasts to have been the inspiration for Vinnie Jones’s character in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

He has so far written four books about gangland violence and written, produced and starred in his own film called Hell to Pay.

He refers to himself as David Courtney OBE, which stands for ‘one big ego’.