Cheetham Hillbillies
| Founded | 1980s or earlier |
|---|---|
| Founder | Biggie - U back Jr |
| Founding location | Cheetham Hill, Manchester |
| Years active | 1980s to present |
| Territory | Manchester |
| Membership (est.) | 100 |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, weapon trafficking, armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution, extortion, racketeering, contract killing, money laundering |
| Allies | British crime firms |
| Rivals | The Pepperhill Mob |
The Cheetham Hill Gang, also known as the Hillbillies, is an organised crime group based in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, England. Most members of the gang grew up or lived in one of three separate areas of Cheetham Hill; the Waterloo Estate, the Halliwell Estate and the Heywood Street Estate.
The Cheetham Hill Gang is well known for loyalty among its members, who stick together as one unit. Hailing from a relatively small part of the town is one reason for the gang's success against rival gangs (such as Moss Side) who are often plagued by internal disputes.
The Cheetham Hill Gang had become established by the early 1980s, following turf wars with other gangs from the Moss Side and Salford areas of Manchester. These conflicts intensified in the early 1990s over the drugs trade and the control of Manchester's club scene. By the mid 1990s, the rivalry was largely taken over by younger members of each gang, and developed into a war over reputation and respect in the city.
The gang's rivalry with Moss Side often spilled into city centre bars and clubs. In these establishments, the Cheetham Hill Gang was known as the most ruthless of all Manchester gangs at the time. Its members would force their way into bars and nightclubs to sell drugs openly, while drinking champagne and other alcohol without paying. This led to physical clashes with many of Manchester's doormen and club owners, who were intimidated by gang members and feared repercussions. One such incident led to a rival gangster from Moss Side being stabbed in the head during a jungle drum and bass rave at Sankey's Soap Nightclub in Manchester. Another incident led to two leading gangsters from Rusholme being stabbed in the neck outside another club, the Music Box. In the late 1990s, doormen at clubs such as the Isobar, Piccadilly 21's, The Haçienda, Saturdays, The Gallery and Club Havana were attacked.
Later, The Gooch Close Gang often bought and sold drugs to Cheetham Hill. The Gooch had close ties to Cheetham Hill, with the cousin of the Cheetham Hill Gang's head being a leading figure in the Gooch. Delroy Brown (leader of the Pepperhill Mob) thought this was helping the "enemies".
The Cheetham Hill Gang's leader Anthony "White Tony" Johnson was gunned down outside a local pub in 1991 (aged 22).Desmond Noonan was charged with Johnson's murder but was later acquitted. Over the next several years, he faced a number of convictions in connection with witness intimidation and jury tampering; as a result, key witnesses refusing to testify against him and other members of the Noonan family. The gun battle started when Johnson and Tony McKie were ambushed in the car park of the Penny Black pub. Their escape was blocked by a Taxi with Paul Flannery inside. A wheelchair bound man (Paul Flannery) shot Tony Mckie. McKie then began to run to a nearby house. But then brothers Desmond, Derek and Damian Noonan, and Michael Sharples, joined in the attack. Johnson was hit in the back as he tried to get away. Someone then shouted: 'Finish him off,' and two shots were fired. He was shot in the neck and through the mouth.
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