Peaky Blinders: Horrifying reality of brutal Birmingham gang laid bare

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Peaky Blinders was among a select number of TV series given the green light to commence filming once again during the coronavirus lockdown. But Cillian Murphy, who plays the BBC show lead Thomas ‘Tommy’ Shelby, and other actors will need to maintain a safe social distance while on-set. The news will delight fans with some turning to Netflix to catch-up on the beloved show. Its popularity was proven by the 3.84 million viewers who tuned-in to catch the final episode of season five last September. But away from Stephen Knight’s fictional adaptation of these tales, the real Peaky Blinders gangs were feared and hated by the local population. Historian Carl Chinn explained that they were despised by the ‘work-class poor’ that they ‘devilled’ and in any conflict never fought fairly. The brutal beginnings behind these gangs was revealed to Express.co.uk, as well as their terrifying details of their bloodthirsty reign and the barbaric ambushes that they carried out.

Far from their near-endearing and at times noble portrayal on the small screen, the true Peaky Blinders were described as “backstreet thugs and petty criminals”.

From the late 1800s they operated with “near-impunity” on the backstreets of Birmingham, with brutish attacks inflicted upon dwindled police numbers, which lasted until several years before World War 2. 

They were believed to have risen-up in rebellion to middle class laws “oppressing” the lives of the working class and culling their gambling games, according to Professor Chinn. 

Known for their “violent and vicious” ways, the gangs plagued the poor and would launch merciless attacks on anyone in their way with whatever weapons were at their disposal.

Professor Chinn told Express.co.uk: “They fought using boots, belts wrapped around their wrists to slash with buckle, knives, brickends, cobblestones, anything they could find.

“The main objective of these gangs was to show-off their fighting prowess and they didn’t fight fair.”

During the latter reign of these criminals, many of the men considered to be ‘Peaky Blinders’ – a term similar to ‘hooligan’ today – were imprisoned and didn’t serve during World War 1. 

Prior to that, they were a “loose gangs of thugs” and “pickpockets” who extorted bookmakers through racketeering, stealing and selling items at a massively marked-up price. 

Despite this, only one man was ever branded with the gang’s notorious name – when he was described as ‘a Peaky Blinder of the worst kind” by a judge. 

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He was Henry Lightfoot, a man sentenced to manual labour for trying to knife a policeman – who interestingly found redemption later in life.

The first use of the term ‘Peaky Blinders’ came after a gang insulted and then brutally beat up George Eastwood – an innocent bystander, attacked for drinking ginger beer instead of alcohol in a pub.

Professor Chinn said: “They offered him out for a fight, he declined, but later when he left to go home he was brutally attacked beneath one of the viaducts. 

“The following week, a Birmingham Mail letter claimed the attack was carried out by ‘Small Heath Peaky Blinders’.”

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In stark contrast to the fictional Shelby family on the BBC portrayal that first aired in 2013, the true gangs were “vicious and vile”, according to Professor Chinn.

He penned the book ‘Peaky Blinders: The Real Story of Birmingham’s Most Notorious Gangs’ last year, where he disputed many of the myths surrounding their reign.

The historian told Express.co.uk: “They were men who preyed on other working class people, they were bullies and violent men. 

“These backstreet gangs and any gangs are not honourable, they always portray themselves as men of honour but they prey on their own people.”

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