Boyle claiming to be the Teesside authority figure on Duffy is beyond parody. He will have been about eight when he was murdered.

Author Jamie Boyle has already written extensively about Duffy in his book The Whole of the Moon, and a documentary will be released on DVD on August 25. Stephen and his brothers Michael and John Henry earned a reputation as one of the North East’s most notorious underworld families. Ex-boxer and bouncer Lee Duffy would be well into his 50s now had he not died at the hands of a man he once called a friend. He had previously survived two shootings and an attempt to turn him into a human torch. During the trial, more of Duffy's violent past was uncovered including games of "Russian roulette" with a loaded firearm. Allison was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter and it was ruled that he had acted in self-defence. It was at the hands of a man who he once called a friend that Duffy lost his life. David Allison and Duffy had exchanged words at a blues party in the Afro Caribbean Centre.

Featuring well known stories that have since become legend across Middlesbrough as well as tales never heard before, the book paints a picture of two men who started out as enemies, and became the best of friends. The ex-boxer and bouncer was shot on two separate occasions and once had petrol poured over him. But in August 1991, Duffy’s life came to a violent end when he was stabbed during a brutal street brawl in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, aged just 26.

Just over 30 years ago one of the most feared men in the North East met a violent end after three alleged attempts on his life. I’ve spoken to people who knew him as a child and he would often be seen walking around his estate late on a school night because he never wanted to go home. Prior to his violent death in 1991, the ex-boxer and bouncer had already survived three alleged attempts on his life - he was shot on two occasions and once had petrol poured over him. Before his death, Duffy was shot on two separate occasions and once had petrol poured over him. But in August 1991, his life came to a violent end when he was stabbed during a brutal street brawl in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, aged just 26. And now it has been revealed who will take on the roles of two of the biggest names from this region's underworld past.

However, a day later, Allison called his dad and told him: "I think I've killed Lee Duffy". He handed himself in and was arrested and charged with murder. There is only one good thing that has come out of this - Lee would not have wanted him to go to jail because Lee was not a man who wanted anyone to go to jail. Lee could have accepted it, but it is different for me." There were a few times where I had told him something about someone and then later on if we bumped into that person he would repeat what I had said about them to their face.

Jamie said he decided to research Lee’s life as he wanted to find out how one young man became so renowned. And in his own autobiography Stephen claimed a fight had been arranged between the pair – but Graham did not show up. Operation Sayers explores the Newcastle brothers' rise to the top of the criminal ladder. It includes unseen court documents, statements and interview recordings which give insight into the notorious family's past, and police's attempts to bring them down. The murder of Viv Graham, who was shot outside a Wallsend pub 26 years ago, remains one of Tyneside's most talked about unsolved crimes.A spokesman for Lytton Bros Pictures added: "It was great to finally spend a couple of days in Newcastle and start casting the film. We also took time to visit a few locations and catch up with Stephen himself. This is an exciting project and we are looking forward to helping bring it to life on the big screen." Duffy and Sayers first met as youngsters in Low Newton Remand Centre in 1982. There is also a photograph of the South Bank gangster, which has apparently never been seen by the public before. Recalling the moment he heard his pal had been killed, he said: "The day I found out Lee had died, I was in the Bay Horse Inn, I was still rough from the night before and when the word came into Newcastle that the Duff was dead, well I was absolutely devastated to say the least.

The court heard heard movie-like tales of Duffy's violent ways with details of his gun-toting exploits. Duffy had played "Russian roulette" with a loaded revolver, declaring himself "invincible". His trial at Teesside Crown Court started in February 1993. Allison told the jury he had feared for his life at the time of the fight as it was no secret that Duffy, who grew up in South Bank, would regularly carry a gun. READ MORE: ' Never before seen' jacuzzi picture of Lee Duffy surfaces in book about notorious Tyneside gangster

Who was Lee Duffy?

Boyle was told directly by Duffy’s family not to write the book. They pleaded with him. Duff’s brother Lawrie (who I knew and has since died) was devastated as it was just raking up a painful and traumatic past for a few quid. Boyle end up writing a couple of Duffy books so you know what he’s all about morally when the family of a dead man were reaching out asking him not to do the book. And he ends up doing a few plus a DVD. From what I've heard mate, from a good source, he was a bit of a bully and he wasn't what you would call a hard fella.