Inside brutal rise and fall of infamous ‘King of the Hill’ gangster who terrorised metropolis in ‘Hillbillies’ crew

THE brutal rise and fall of a infamous gangster often called “King of the Hill” who left a city dwelling in concern has been revealed.

Stephen Akinyemi – often called “Aki” – is claimed to have introduced terror to Manchester streets earlier than being killed on the residence of a businessman.

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Thriller nonetheless surrounds the loss of life of the suspected gangster from the Cheetham Hill district 12 years on from an inquest’s open verdict.

The person often called “Aki” has been described as a “trusted lieutenant” in Manchester’s infamous “Cheetham Hillbillies” gang.

He drove a silver Porsche with a personalised quantity plate “AKI” and was a well-recognized face within the metropolis’s bars and nightclubs, the MEN reported.

His mob, also called the “Cheetham Hill Gang”, are stated to have sprung up within the 1980s, finishing up armed robberies earlier than shifting into drug-dealing.

Akinyemi turned police‘s chief suspect for the homicide of 34-year-old Chinada Iheagwara who was shot useless at a home in Crumpsall, Larger Manchester, in February 2002.

Iheagwara had beforehand been jailed for 20 years for his function in an machete assault on a forex depot safety guard in Oldham in April 1989, serving half his sentence.

Akinyemi was reportedly considered as an “elder statesman” amongst Manchester gangland figures.

He managed to flee prosecution for different offences he was suspected of.

These included the alleged rape in January 2010 of a lady who says her drink was spiked throughout an evening out at a bar in Stockport.

Akinyemi was alleged to have pushed the “disoriented” sufferer again to his residence then raped her at knifepoint, earlier than warning her: “If this will get out, I am going to have you ever.”

The next month he died at a millionaire businessman’s transformed chapel mansion in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

Akinyemi, 44, was carrying physique armour and a stab-proof vest when he turned up at Arran Coghlan’s residence.

Coghlan was charged with homicide after calling police who discovered Akinyemi useless with capturing and stab wounds on February 9 2010.

‘THIS WAS NO HERO’

Tributes had been paid on the time on a Fb web page arrange in his reminiscence, together with “True Unhealthy Man. RIP bro. By no means forgotten” and “RIP King of the Hill”.

Coghlan insisted he acted in self-defence in a tussle after Akinyemi aimed a a gun at him and costs had been dropped in July that 12 months.

An inquest the next February at Warrington Coroner’s Courtroom delivered an open verdict.

A second inquest was held in 2017 the place the coroner gave a story verdict, ruling Mr Coghlan had been “appearing moderately to defend himself”.

It was prompt Mr Coghlan was attempting to behave as a peacemaker in a roq between Akinyemi and a 3rd man Philip Atkinson, over who had the precise to make use of the nickname “Aki”.

Akinyemi ran his personal safety agency and studied numerous martial arts.

Two years earlier than his loss of life killing, Coghlan was stabbed within the neck and shoulder at Cobden’s bar in Stockport throughout New 12 months’s Eve celebrations.

Akinyemi was operating the venue’s safety on the time.

On the 2017 inquest his brother John Akinyemi stated he had by no means requested “Aki” in regards to the particulars and knew nothing in regards to the incident.

He additionally denied options Akinyemi was a violent man, insisting he by no means noticed his brother transcend six on a mood scale of 1 to 10.

When requested on the inquest whether or not his brother belonged to the Cheetham Hill Gang, John Akinyemi stated: “He lived in Cheetham.

“He knew lots of people however he stored his personal firm. Once you stroll alone, that is not a gang, is it?”

However somebody who knew Akinyemi advised the MEN: “He was evil. They’re portray him to be some type of angel on Fb and it is completely disgraceful.

“He was very harmful. This was no hero. He was a bully. Folks had been so fearful of him that nobody would communicate out in opposition to him.

“Cheetham Hill is a greater place, a safer place, now he’s useless.”

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