Tony Argent was born in 1967 in London’s East End and became one of London’s better-known gangsters after taking control of some businesses, pubs and security in and around West Ham, East London. 

Known locally for his violent tendencies and criminal activities, Argent’s life escalated from the petty crimes of his youth such as demanding goods with menaces, to more serious violent assaults and crimes that peaked with murder. Business owners in parts of the East End of London who had often been the victims of protection rackets and had issues in house with uncontrollable clients saw Argent as a fairer man. Although his services were to be paid for, he looked out for the business owners, eliminating petty crimes such as general theft from stores, restaurants and in pubs he kept a good order for those that paid for his security and protection services. 

The Newham area was known for its high concentration of crime, criminals and in particular the organised syndicates that operated there. Running security for businesses like pubs where landlords could easily be targeted for extortion was generally acceptable and the overwhelming number of individuals and gangs operating in these zones saw daily violence on a particularly vicious scale. To operate within these battle grounds meant you needed to be vicious, and to be in the top pool you had to display violence at its worst level. Tony did this with ease. 

Argent’s involvement in this kind of work paid in some ways but not in others, Tony has spent a significant amount of his life behind bars after being caught up in several altercations. Whilst these were beginning to catch up with him the final straw came with the unfortunate murder of Paul Edmonds in 1998. 

Edmond’s murder was the result of a friends turned foe situation with Edmond’s being a particularly fearsome character there was only going to be one outcome, shoot or be shot. 

Prison has been the cause of his continued downfall before aiding him with his recent transformation to become reformed. Although Argent dislikes the time he has lost in prisons around the UK, he is aware sometimes it can be the best place for him. Argent was once feared in the prison system but also known to be fair. He has made many connections with known crime names and is very well connected and respected.