Notorious British gangster nicknamed 'Cabbo' and ran 'Gooch Gang' dies in prison

22 April 2024 , 15:32

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Lee Amos died in prison, it has been confirmed (Image: PA)

A gangster who once led the feared Gooch Gang and known as "Manchester's public enemy number one" has died in prison, it has been confirmed.

Lee 'Cabbo' Amos was jailed in 2009 for the drive-by killing of Tyrone Gilbert, 24. G4S confirmed to the Mirror he passed away at HMP Oakwood and an investigation is underway.

A HMP Oakwood spokesperson said: "A prisoner at HMP Oakwood, Mr Lee Amos, aged 48, passed away on Monday, 22 April 2024.

"His next of kin have been informed and a Family Liaison Officer has been appointed. As with all deaths in prison, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman."

Amos was serving a minimum of 35 years over Gilbert's execution and was part of the notorious Gooch Gang, which terrorised Manchester. After they were jailed, it was reported shootings fell by 92 per cent.

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Manchester Evening News reported Amos, known as Cabbo, was regarded by the police as the Gooch gang’s "best weapon" as he was "cool, calm and collected". Gilbert was shot in the chest and killed at the wake of Ucal Chin, 23. Chin had been shot in an ambush by the Gooch gang's head honcho Colin "Piggy" Joyce as he and Amos believed him to be a member of a rival gang known as the Longsight Crew.

Detectives began unpicking the Gooch Gang from Joyce and Amos from the top down to the street dealers. Armed with evidence from former gang insiders and by piecing together a jigsaw of 80,000 mobile phone calls and texts they were able to link the gangsters to their crimes.

In April 2009, following a six month trial at Liverpool Crown Court in which six former Gooch gang member testified against them, Amos and Joyce were convicted of murder, attempted murder and possessing firearms. Joyce, then 29, was jailed for life and told he would serve a minimum of 39 years, while Amos was banged up for 35 years.

Speaking after the pair were sent down Detective Constable Rod Carter said: "Nobody has had a bigger impact on the Manchester gang scene in the last few years than Colin Joyce. Joyce does not have to pull the trigger - his presence is enough to incite others to do so. He has no need to still be doing what he's doing. He does it because he enjoys it, that's what makes him so dangerous."

Antony Clements-Thrower