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Billy Hill was known as the Godfather of Britain, a criminal mastermind who was even feared by the Krays. But in contrast to the brutal East End twins, he remained in the shadows in life and death. And while his name isn't as widely recognised as Al Capone or Ronnie and Reggie Kray, Hill was an infamous London criminal figure in the 1920s to the 1960s who lead a gang called the Heavy Mob. He even took the Krays under his wing in their youth. Psychologist Serena Simmons said: "He was highly dangerous, a functioning psychopath and a skilled manipulator - but extremely charming and very clever. "Billy operated in an underground manner. He kept himself under the radar. And he always wanted to control the narrative - he understood the less we know, the more intrigued we are." Born in 1911 in the slums of London, Hill's dad was a thief and his sister was a shoplifer. A young Hill quickly mastered the art of burglary. Under different circumstances, Serena believes he could have thrived as a legitimate entrepreneur. She told The Mirror : "He was able to get others to do his bidding, he was a skilled manipulator, felt no remorse - those traits all lend themselves to leadership." But at 16, he was sentenced to Borstal for three years following a burglary conviction. After an escape bid, he and a fellow prisoner attacked a housemaid and both received 12 strokes of the birch. Hill later reflected: "The birch tears you to pieces, but once you've had it you feel you've really overcome something. And from then on, I knew that nothing on God's earth could stop me." Having built a criminal network inside Borstal, he forged connections upon his release. By the 1930s, he and his crew had specialised in smash and grab operations. However, during World War Two, with rationing taking its toll, Hill created a profitable black market enterprise focusing on food and petrol. Now earning substantial sums, he partnered with another underworld figure, Jack Comer, better known as Jack Spot. After numerous spells behind bars, Hill was resolved to remove himself from frontline danger whilst escalating his criminal activities. In 1952, the Eastcastle Street robbery, one of the biggest heists in British history, took place. A gang ambushed a Post Office van and made off with £236,000 - equivalent to around £7.3 million today. Two years later, another raid saw gold bullion worth £40,000 stolen from a van. Despite the scale of these crimes, no one was ever brought to justice, but Hill and his crew were under suspicion. His story features in a new four-part Sky History series, Original Gangsters, narrated by Sean Bean. It takes a deep dive into some of the biggest crime names on both sides of the Atlantic, including Al Capone and the Birmingham gangs who inspired the TV series Peaky Blinders. Serena, a senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University said: "We're fascinated by gangsters. As human beings we want to understand why people do what they do. We're hardwired to enjoy stories - and the stories around gangsters are fascinating. Truth can be stranger than fiction." In his autobiography, Boss of Britain's Underworld, Hill told of his strategic use of violence, stating: "I was always careful to draw my knife down on the face, never across or upwards. Always down. So that if the knife slips you don't cut an artery. After all, cutting an artery is usually murder. Only mugs do murder." His meticulous attention to detail extended to his appearance as well, according to sociology professor Dick Hobbs. In the documentary, Hobbs notes: "He was carefully photographed wearing a trench coat and a trilby hat. He was everybody's idea of what a gangster should look like." Hill's partnership with Jack Spot came to an abrupt end in 1956 after the pair fell out. He ordered his bodyguard "Mad" Frankie Fraser to assault Spot and his wife Rita outside their residence using a traditional Irish weapon known as a shillelagh, which he had gifted to Hill. This incident was later portrayed in the film Once Upon a Time in London. Ex-gangster turned author Stephen Gillen said: "It's about domination, it's about control. It's about taking over. Anyone who stands in your way is surplus to requirements." With Jack out of the picture, the Krays, under the guidance of crime lord Hill, were on the rise. They even adopted similar fashion styles, donning sharp suits, pocket squares, and slicked-back hair. Dick Hobbs, an expert in the sociology of London, organised and professional crime, said: "Billy Hill's initial response was 'can I use these guys?' "He tested them out by phoning them late one night and saying 'I need you to come now.' They quickly gathered weapons and rushed over - only to find there was no trouble. Having demonstrated their loyalty, Billy rewarded them with £500." By the early 1960s, the Krays had begun operating nightclubs and protection rackets, earning themselves a formidable reputation. At the same time, Hill was at the height of his criminal prowess and infamy. By the time the Krays were jailed for life in 1969, Billy was quietly enjoying his ill-gotten gains in Tangier, Morocco - where he had bought a nightclub - and Marbella in Spain. He also became a dad in his early 60s to a son, Justin. Former associate Bobby McKew, who is now 100, mused: "Successful criminals, nobody knows who they are. Only afterwards it comes out about how big the money was they earned." After a struggle with poor health and having retired from his life of crime, Hill took his own life at the age of 72, in 1984. There is scant public information about his funeral. His death certificate listed his occupation as 'in demolition'. His son Justin shared in the documentary: "He was a good man. It was inevitable he was gonna do what he was gonna do. Put that aside, he was a gentleman. Old school." Serena added: "Billy was a man who had dark triad traits - a term that describes the coming together of Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. That means we see someone who lies, who's cunning and manipulative but charming and who always wants to control the story." Original Gangsters is a four-episode series, featuring notorious criminal figures from the UK and the US. It begins on Tuesday, November 4 at 9pm on Sky HISTORY. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here .
