THE ELDER brother of the Kray twins, the high living gangsters who terrorised east London in the 1960s, was remanded in custody for six days yesterday after being charged with supplying cocaine.
Charlie Kray (70), from Limpsfield Road, Sanderstea, Surrey, appeared before magistrates in Redbridge, east London charged with conspiring to supply 520 kilos of cocaine valued at £78 million and supplying two kilos valued at £300,000.
Two other men from south London, Ronald Field (49) Ronson Road, Raynes Park, and Robert Gould (39), from South Park Road, Wimbledon, were charged in connection with the same offences.
As he left the dock Kray (70), blew a kiss to his 45 year old girlfriend, Ms Judy Stanley, who was sitting in the public area of the court with two family friends.
Ronnie and Reggie Kray were jailed for life in 1969 for gangland murders. Ronnie shot gangster George Cornell in front of startled drinkers in a pub in East London. The twins were also found guilty of murdering a small time villain, Jack "The Hat" McVitie, who had offended them.
Charlie Kray has spent his life in the shade of his infamous younger brothers. Ronnie died of a heart attack last year in Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, home to many of Britain's most disturbed criminals. Reggie (62), remains in prison.
Ronnie's funeral an ostentatious affair with a hearse drawn by six horses wearing black plumes brought the Krays' old stamping ground in the East End of London to a halt, and confirmed the rogues' elevation to celebrity status. A film version of their criminal exploits came out in 1990. Charlie Kray was an adviser to the production team.