Exclusive: Police warn actor Danny Dyer he's murder target

Aug 9 2009 Derek Alexander

TV hardman Danny Dyer has been told he's a murder target after filming a documentary with thug security boss Lewis "Scooby" Rodden."

The Deadliest Men presenter was issued with an official warning by police who were alerted to a plot against the Cockney star's life.

A gangland figure also phoned the star and informed him that his safety was at risk if the show was screened.

Shaken Dyer has now scrapped the programme, which was due to be broadcast on the Bravo channel tomorrow night as the season finale.

Last night, Dyer and Zig Zag Productions, who made the series, refused to comment A source said yesterday: "Danny only does these shows to make a living and entertain people.

"When he starts getting threats made against his life he realises it's not worth it."

Dyer, 32, travelled to Glasgow last month and spent two days filming with 48-year-old Rodden, boss of P& B Contracts.

A film crew followed the pair around the city's Possil district, Diamond Dolls lap-dancing club and Celtic Park.

Rodden last year claimed that he battered security rival Bobby "The Devil" Dempster outside the stadium last December but Dempster, 60, has always denied the claims.

The source added: "Dempster hit the roof when he found out that Rodden had been filmed outside Celtic Park.

"He knew that he'd be repeating the claims he'd battered him&only this time it would be on television.

"One of Dempster's pals in London happens to know Danny and called him direct.

"He told Danny it would be a mistake to believe everything Rodden had told him and that it would be better if the documentary was forgotten about.

"Danny then said the whole show had become more trouble than it was worth because Strathclyde Police had also said they believed his life was in danger because of it.

"Rodden will be gutted that the show's now been binned."

Rodden and Dempster have been feuding for almost 10 years.

Dempster, boss of Ruchill Security, kicked Rodden out of the firm in 2001 following a row over gangster Stewart 'Speccy' Boyd, who later died in a car accident in 2003.

Rodden was shot by a hitman in Amsterdam weeks after the fall-out.

He was in Holland for Celtic's Champions League tie against Ajax.

In 2005, Rodden was jailed for four years after he was convicted of leading a protection racket as boss of West Coast Security. His sentence was later halved.

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/08/09/exclusive-police-warn-actor-danny-dyer-he-s-target-for-murder-78057-21584198/