Albert Dimes

Who is Albert Dimes?

Albert "Italian Al" Dimes was a London criminal and enforcer from Clerkenwell, East Central London; both his parents were Italian. He worked for gang leader William "Billy" Hill, who was allegedly involved in bookmaking and loansharking during the 1940s and 1950s.

In July 1941 Dimes was convicted with Joseph Collette of attacking Edward Fletcher at a Soho Club in Wardour Street. The Recorder noted that the incident took place "under the shadow of a graver offence. One man had lost his life and another man was under sentence of death." He dismissed any prejudice against second generation Italians. Harry Capocci was acquitted and Dimes was bound over for three years. In the same incident, Harry "Little Hubby" Distleman was stabbed to death by Antonio Mancini.

In August 1955, Dimes was arrested with rival gangster Jack Spot during a knife fight in Soho. Neither man was charged. As a result of his arrest, Spot's power in the city's underworld declined. The battle almost spread to politics when Dimes tried to use National Labour Party members against rivals Bud Flanagan and Spot, Jewish gangsters involved in funding the 43 Group.