Dave Courtney took his own life - inquest

Gangster-turned-actor Dave Courtney had said he was in pain and did not want to "waste having a wicked life" before he took his own life, an inquest has heard.

Courtney, 64, was found with a gunshot wound at his home in Plumstead, south-east London, in the early hours of 22 October 2023. His body was discovered by a friend, actor Brendan McGirr, Southwark Coroner's Court heard.

Det Sgt James Robinson told the court about videos Courtney had made in the months before his death. In one of them he spoke about his rheumatoid arthritis and how he was "disguising a lot of pain".

Senior coroner Dr Julian Morris concluded after a short inquest that the 64-year-old took his own life.

"I'm having to hide the fact that I can't get up and down the stairs and in and out of the car and I'm not enjoying it at the moment," Courtney had said.

"That's really it. I don't want to go waste having a wicked life like I've had. Absolutely superb."

In a 35-second video from the day he was found, Courtney apologised to the people in his life, adding: "There's people that are going to be upset.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

Courtney's wife and daughter sat arm in arm at the front of the court for the duration of the hearing.

The court heard a police investigation into his death concluded there was no evidence of third-party involvement.

Giving his conclusion, Dr Morris said he asked himself two questions: whether Courtney took his own life and if he intended to do so.

"The answer to both those, having heard the evidence, I consider to be yes," the coroner said.

"He had recorded many videos over several months stating he could not go on due to the pain."

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