Founded 1980s or earlier Years active 1980s to present Membership (est.) 100 | Founder Biggie - U back Jr | |
Founding location Cheetham Hill, Manchester | ||
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.
Contents
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.
History
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.
During its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Cheetham Hill Gang was believed to be the top gang in Manchester.. Certain areas of Cheetham Hill were considered a "no go" zone for neighbourhood wardens and police. Large numbers of empty social housing units were taken over by the gang and used to sell drugs including a 14‑storey tower block on the border with nearby Broughton, Salford.
Aside from turf wars, the Cheetham Hill Gang was also deeply involved in drug conspiracy. Many of the gang's members have been jailed for their role in selling heroin and other drugs. Their notoriety led to an investigation into the gang and its members. Their drug dealing and violent crime made the Cheetham Hill Gang one of the most feared in the United Kingdom.
The peak of their activities was in the 1990s and mid 2000s, but the gang is still active, albeit with a much lower profile. Many gang members have now moved into surrounding areas as a result of sustained police operations and activity in the Cheetham Hill area.
The Moss Side - Cheetham Hill War
In the 1990s, the Cheetham Hill Gang was involved in a turf war with Moss Side's Gooch Close Gang. Members of the Cheetham Hill Gang were known for throwing celebration parties following the murder of rival Moss Side gang members.
Tensions originally arose after a robbery on the territory of one gang, but eventually escalated over a woman. The gang war between Moss Side and Cheetham Hill started with a prolific robber of mixed race, then in his mid twenties, known to the police as "the Gladiator" for his height and his fearless nature. The Gladiator had had a criminal record since his youth, and in the early eighties served a prison term, during which his girlfriend left him for one of the high–ranking members of the Moss Side gang. Speaking anonymously, one gang member speculated that the Gladiator "felt this was an affront to his manhood, but at the same time it was seen to be uncool to fight over a woman. So he did not immediately about it when he came out of jail, but there was this simmering tension."
When a family with friends in both communities held a Christening party at a house on the Alexandra Park Estate in Moss Side, "The Gladiator" saw his chance. One version events stated that he was standing in a doorway when a Moss Side man bumped into him and spilled his drink. Refusing the Moss Side member's apology, "The Gladiator" seized the opportunity to make a statement to Moss Side. He dragged the man outside and beat him badly. "Everyone came out the party and two sides are drawn," said a gang member later. "The Moss Side man who had been seeing his girlfriend comes out also, they have words and another fight kicks off. Then they fuck off back to Cheetham Hill and come back with guns." There was no shooting that day, but lines were drawn.
Splinter cells
Members are known to split into separate splinter cells but remain Cheetham Hill Gang members. In the 1990s, one of these splinter cells was known as the N.H.C (Niggaz, Honks, Chinks) in reference to the ethnicity of its members. There was also a female splinter cell known as the H.B.B (Hillbilly Bitches). Younger members are referred to as Y.C.H.Gs (Young Cheetham Hill Gang) or L.H.Gs (Little Hill Gang) until they are considered old enough or proven enough to drop the "Young" or "Little" from their title. Gang members can often be identified by their tattoos, with many having the letters C.H.G. somewhere on their upper body. They are also known for wearing large gold chains and bracelets as evidence of their wealth.