Gangland enforcer Billy 'Bullet Man' Isaac... violent cases, famous friends - and a final tragic twist

Standing 6ft 4ins tall and weighing 18st, shaven-headed with a teardrop tattoo under his left eye, Billy Isaac looked every inch the underworld enforcer he reputedly was. Dubbed the 'Bullet Man', the ex-professional heavyweight boxer was said to be one of the most feared figures in gangland Manchester and London.

Linked to the capital's notorious Adams family crime syndicate, Isaac reportedly organised security for the funeral of infamous East End gangster Ronnie Kray. Born in Denton, Isaac was a talented boxer who having made a successful professional debut at Oldham Sports Centre in 1991, looked set to carve out a decent career in the fight game.

But it was to be another two years before he climbed back into the ring - this time at Wythenshawe Forum - for the second and final time. Having said to have suffered a back injury by then, it seems Isaac was eyeing up other ways to make his proficiency with his fists pay.

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He began working the doors in Stockport, where he's rumoured to have crossed swords with another former boxer, 'Devil Dog Mobster' Chris Little, before setting up his own security firm. In 1995 Isaac came to wider notoriety when he was charged with the murder of businesswoman Pat Hayes, 46, who was shot twice in the head as she slept at her home in Reddish.

Isaac was accused of carrying out the shooting on the orders of his mother Rita. It was claimed she stood to inherit Ms Hayes's bungalow and several properties they owned together in Florida.

But he was acquitted of murder along with his mother. It's thought