Notorious London gangster Eddie Richardson , 68 , has been nominated for an award for his charity work , it has been reported . Notorious South London gangster Eddie Richardson , who terrorised the capital in the Sixties and Seventies with his brother Charlie , is in line for a top charity award , it has been reported . The 68-year-old , who dabbled in drugs , racketeering and employed torturer 'Mad ' Frankie Fraser as his enforcer , is now being backed for the Freedom of the Borough of Southwark . The nod comes after he helped to raise funds to fight Motor Neurone Disease , supported the Multiple Sclerosis Society and helped disadvantaged children . According to The Sun , a nomination from the Mayor 's office for the award fails to mention his decades of criminal activities , and refers to his 2002 release from prison as 'retirement ' . The application says : 'Eddie can always find time to help those around him . Nothing is too much trouble . ' The Richardson Gang operated in South London during its most troubled years in the Sixties and Seventies , and became so notorious it rivalled the Kray Twins ' reign of terror . Brothers Eddie and Charlie used a scrap metal business and fruit machine company as fronts for a criminal empire involving drug dealing , protection and extortion rackets . The gang were most feared for their enforcer , 'Mad ' Frankie Fraser , who tortured anyone who crossed them following trial by kangaroo court run by the brothers . His favoured methods of torture were rumoured to be pulling teeth out with pliers , nailing people to the floor using six inch spikes , and electrocuting others using a crank-handled telephone . Eddie , along with his brother Charlie , terrorised south London in the Sixties and Seventies , indulging in drug dealing , extortion and protection rackets ( pictured , Eddie with his Rolls Royce ) But it is claimed that Eddie ( pictured sitting third left , with brother Charlie standing second left ) has now been nominated for the Freedom of the Borough of Southwark after raising money for charitable causes . It has also been claimed Fraser also used electric fires , knives and axes in his 'torture chamber ' . Being taken to Fraser 's chamber was allegedly known as 'getting a shirt from Frankie ' after his method of giving victims clean shirts to wear home after their ordeals . Eddie was described by two separate Home Secretaries as ‘ one of the most dangerous men in Britain ’ and has served a total of 46 years in jail . His career-ending arrest came in 1990 , when he was busted following a £70 million drugs deal that earned him a 35-year prison sentence , eventually commuted to 13 years . Aside from the Krays and Fraser , his associates include the Great Train Robbers , the prison reformer Lord Longford , and Brian Keenan , then head of the armed council of the IRA . The Richardson Gang , as they were known , were most feared for their enforcer 'Mad ' Frankie Fraser ( pictured ) who ran a 'torture chamber ' punishing those who crossed the gang by pulling out teeth with pliers . Richardson was described by two successive home secretaries as 'one of the most dangerous men in Britain ' , and ran an empire to rival the Kray twins ( pictured left to right , Reggie , Charlie and Ronnie Kray ) Today the former gangster lives in a £2.5million house in Beckenham , Kent , holidays in Marbella , organises charity golf competitions and paints portraits of friends . When asked about Richardson 's charity nominations , Labour councillors Ian Wingfield and Dora Dixon , who supported the application , refused to answer . The decision of whether to award Richardson the freedom of Southwark will be made shortly .
Eddie Richardson ran drugs and protection rackets with brother Charlie . Richardson Gang used enforcer 'Mad ' Frankie Fraser to torture rivals . But Eddie has now been tipped for the Freedom of Borough of Southwark . Nomination is in recognition for his charity work , it has been reported .