Stop the Ride I Want to Get Off: An Autobiography

by Dave Courtney

This autobiography has made London's most infamous celebrity gangster - and the inspiration for the character Big Chris, played by Vinny Jones, in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - an international star. Read about Dave Courtney's shady and amoral past, his time in jail, the violent encounters that put him there, and why he has decided it's time to get out of the crime business. Meet machete-wielding Chinese waiters, unlicensed boxing promoters and debt collectors. See Dave bitten, beaten, stabbed and shot; and learn that prison didn't do anything except to make him determined always to be better at not getting caught.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, True Crime, Crime

416 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 1999

Reviews

[Lee Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read and very funny at times. Truth?? Well you make your own mind up! I heard people say it's lies etc but to me.. It doesn't matter. I've met Dave and listened to him I have no reason to disbelieve any of the stories in this book about a very Naughty boy! I really enjoyed this book.

[John Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how much is bullshit but very entertaining and some very true observations about life and people.

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a book not to challenge my brain cells after all the festive overindulgences.

This guy is for real, lives in Plumstead, a crapola suburb of South London I know well, in a house that is changed to look like a 4 bedroom semi detached version of Camelot. Many, many tales to make you laugh, I enjoyed this immensely. Some give off the stench of exaggeration, but what comic tales do not?

The British public have always had a strange relationship with its underworld figures. I think because historically we have always trusted our laws and police to prevent the true insidious corruption organized crime has in other areas of the world. They have tended to just do damage to each other, and so we have treated them like entertainment.

As the world changes, and ex doormen and failed boxers like Courtney find the criminal world changed with Russians and their henchmen recruited from special forces hardened in Balkan and Chechnyan conflicts moving into the Costas, and other areas of previous British criminal influence, I am sure this reads all fossilised now. Not much humour or innocence in sexual trafficking, and drug cartels now.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

My girlfriend got me this as a sort-of joke for Christmas, as it featured on a podcast we both listen to. It's not something I would have chosen, but it was entertaining. As a bit of lockdown escapism it was ok.

Dave Courtney is a charming enough guide as he takes us through his eventful life on the edges of London's underworld. He instills his grubby life of chasing debts, dodging the old bill and giving people "a good clomping" with some glamour, and the book is at it's best when he's describing the reality of prison or criminal enterprise, but a lot of the time it feels a bit like being trapped at a party politely listening to someone else's friend's made up stories.

[mr j m palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Name drop galore but stories are pretty good

Ok the book was well worth a read even if there was a lot of name dropping some funny old stories in there aswell

[Aaron Tong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book by Dave a proper insite into his laugh the good bad and the funny definitely worth the read

[Danielle Spencer-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts were real laugh out loud moments, and the guy is pure genius. I found I got bored with the constant list of names he would write. But worth the read.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insiders guide to how London gangsters work, rest and play. On the surface another two a penny wanna be gangster come celebrity who wants his fifteen minutes of fame. With the person in question more than happy to tell you about all the funny adventures he’s been on and skirt over the violence inflicted one too many clients.

Interesting and insightful the narrative does become a little repetitive and you don’t really know what to believe in the end, the picture of the loveable Artful Dodger or the cold-hearted criminal who would let you believe only his version is the real one.

[Chris Bridges · Rating 2 out of 5]

Take your brain out stuff.
Entertaining enough in the way that you end the book knowing just who and what Mr Courtney is. Although I believe the image your left with is not the one he intended you to have.

[pierlapo quimby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colossale raccolta di malefatte e fregnacce del self-styled gangster inglese Dave Courtney http://www.davecourtney.com/
con alcune chicche impagabili, come quella in cui racconta di aver preso a pugni i membri della band Sigue Sigue Sputnik... ve li ricordate? Cazzo, ha fatto bene!

[Joseph Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I could not put down. It is a very entertaining account of our local Gangster and how he grew up, became a hoodlum and all the scrapes along the way.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Neil Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish it, the man is a thug,

[Ross Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing and reading about him from other sources it was good to hear his story.. a decent read

[Eddie Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Great stories. How did he evade the police for so long? Comes across as a caring sort of gangster - but pulls no punches. Recommend it.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a British gangster, club owner, and promoter.

[Stephen Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny yet compelling reading, gives an insight in what compels people to commit crime.