Inside notorious crime boss Steven ‘Bonzo' Daniel's rise to power – and the brutal machete attack that left him for dead
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May 18th, 2017 started off as just another day for gangland hood Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel.
But little did he know he was about to be left brutally scarred and fighting for his life. Every move he made was being watched, every turn tracked by ruthless enemies hungry for power.
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Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel pictured after the brutal assassination bid
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CCTV shows the moment Bonzo was chased in his taxi during a deadly hunt from rivals
From the stands of Ibrox watching Rangers play Aberdeen, Bonzo left the game, dropping off taxi tycoon pal Stevie 'The Fat Controller' Malcolm on the way home.
But the quiet Glasgow streets soon transformed into a deadly hunting ground.
An Audi S3 and a VW Golf materialized in his rearview mirror – the rival Lyons gang, relentless in their pursuit.
They knew his every move, thanks to tracking devices hidden on his vehicle.
A high-speed chase erupted, tearing through the city, red lights ignored as two worlds collided. From Milton to the M8 at Port Dundas, the 100 miles per hour pursuit escalated until Bonzo crashed on a ramp, trapped.
What followed was a brutal, targeted assault. Cleavers, machetes, a claw hammer – wielded with savage intent.
Bonzo's face became a canvas of carnage: deep lacerations, a nose left hanging, damage so severe police initially mistook it for a gunshot wound. With fractured bones and a dislocated skull – Bonzo was left for dead, his attackers vanishing into the night.
This is the story of Glasgow's 'Scarface' - Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel.
HEIR TO THE THRONE
By the time of the brutal execution attempt, Bonzo had risen to the head of the notorious Glasgow crime clan the Daniels - amassing an intricate web of allies as he sought to take the criminal empire from strength to strength.
He took over the reins following the death of his uncle, feared crime boss Jamie Daniel a year earlier.
Jamie - who at one stage had amassed an empire worth £10million - began his criminal career dealing in used cars and scrap metal in Glasgow's Possilpark.
He and his brothers formed a major heroin syndicate - which went on to wage a deadly drugs war in Glasgow with bitter enemies the Lyons family - led by Godfather Eddie Lyons Senior.
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Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel rose to the top of his family's notorious crime clan
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Jamie Daniel had amassed a wide-spanning criminal empire before his death
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Eddie Lyons Senior, the godfather crime boss of the rival Lyons clan
Credit: The Sun
But his world came crashing down when, in 2010, was diagnosed with cancer, before eventually passing away in July 2016.
The 58-year-old's death sparked fears the clan would plummet into civil war as rivals battled to seize control.
But Bonzo - son of crime queen Annette Daniel, Jamie's sister - took charge, calling the shots as he ran their multi million pound drug dealing empire and legitimate businesses - - making him the obvious target for the rival Lyons clan hoping to take over the Glasgow drugs trade.
Bonzo was born into crime and has lived that life but some underworld sources claim it's not a natural fit for him.
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Bonzo's mum, crime queen Annette Daniel
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Francis 'Fraggle' Green was viewed by some as a more obvious head of the Daniel clan
His cousin Francis 'Fraggle' Green - son of Jamie - is viewed by some as a more obvious head of the family.
One source said: "Because of Bonzo's nickname and what happened to his face he gets most of the attention.
"But many think Fraggle is the more natural crime boss.
"Bonzo would rather spend time with his partner and kids and go to Ibrox to watch his beloved Rangers than be mired in feuds and constantly looking over his shoulder.
"But given who his relatives are there was never any realistic prospect of a normal life.
"He obviously has connections to some very dangerous people so he'll always get respect through that.
"But he's not a wild gangster type who flaunts violence and wealth. That's not his style."
BONZO BUTCHERED
His rise to the top of the crime family wasn't short of drama.
He was lucky not to be jailed after being cleared following a major probe into the Daniel crime clan which saw his cousin Zander Sutherland - his uncle Jamie's son - jailed for drug dealing in June 2015.
And his brother Robert, a convicted drug dealer, was ambushed by a gang of gunmen during a drive-by shooting in Stepps, just outside Glasgow in 2017.
Within weeks, the Lyons had turned their attention to Bonzo… knowing the execution of the kingpin could unravel the rival empire - a prime opportunity to take control of the drugs trade.
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Bonzo was chased in his taxi at speed of up to 100mph
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Bonzo was left maimed and narrowly escaped alive
After being left maimed by the gang and narrowly escaping alive, Bonzo was taken to the nearby Royal Infirmary — where a team led by Dr Mark Ansell saved his life with 12 hours of surgery.
The world-renowned surgeon would later tell how Bonzo's face was so mangled he had to insert a tube in his throat to help him breathe.
Dr Ansell said: 'His nose was hanging off on the left-hand side, near to his left ear.
'He had extensive injuries, all located in the mid-face area.'
Driver Mohammad Khan, who stopped to help the stricken ex-taxi boss, said: 'His face was in a mess, a total mess. His face was hanging off, you could see his nose bone.
'He couldn't speak. I thought he was going to die.'
Bonzo would later undergo around 40 hours of pioneering surgery over the course of two years to save his butchered face.
An underworld insider at the time told The Scottish Sun: 'Bonzo is extremely lucky to be alive.
'It's a painstakingly slow process, but his face is now being put back together by one of the best surgeons in the world.
'The scarring to his face has already improved massively but there is still a long way still to go.'
Among the brutal facial reconstruction ops Bonzo has endured included inserting metal plates and screws to eye sockets and re-attaching his nose.
A titanium mesh was put into his skull, Bonzo's upper and lower jaw were reconnected, deep cuts across his cheeks were repaired and his damaged ears were operated on.
In the period following the attack, Bonzo was guarded round the clock amid fears of another attempt on his life.
A cop patrol car was also stationed outside his home in the Bishopbriggs area of the city.
LYONS IN THE DOCK
And detectives soon had their first breakthrough when a car used in the assassination attempt was later found in Forge Street, in the Germiston area of Glasgow.
A second car was later found alight in Balmuildy Road, Bishopbriggs.
Officers swooped on properties across the city and six members of the Lyons gang were arrested.
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A burnt out car was found - before cops swooped on properties linked to the Lyons clan
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Robert Pickett, Andrew Gallacher, Brian Ferguson, Andrew Sinclair, John Hardie and Peter Bain were all jailed
Brian Ferguson, Andrew Gallacher, Robert Pickett, Andrew Sinclair, John Hardie, and Peter Bain, were all put in the dock at the high court in Glasgow, accused of trying to kill members of the Daniel clan.
The trial lasted 14 weeks and cost the taxpayer £6m. The six men were all convicted of conspiracy to murder .
Brian Ferguson , Andrew Gallacher, and John Hardie were all jailed for 20 years.
Robert Pickett was locked up for 16 years while Peter Bain was sentenced to 15 years - and turned to give the thumbs up to someone in the gallery as he was handed his sentence - while Andrew Sinclair was jailed for 13 years and three months.
Lord Mulholland told them: 'Steven Daniel gave evidence and said that he was not aware of a feud between the Lyons and Daniel families.
'I did not believe a word and, more importantly, neither did the jury.'
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Ross 'Miami' McGill is now waging war
Bonzo's brazen testimony underscored the belief the feud would be settled on the streets - rather than in the courtroom - highlighting the deep-seeded animosity between the two clans and the desire for revenge.
And while the members of Lyons gang were put away for a long time, Bonzo fought back to lead the Daniel Crime clan - which is once again locked in an explosive battle with their rivals - led by Steven Lyons, and Dubai based gangster Ross 'Miami' Mcgill.
McGill - a former chief of the Union Bears - has waged a several-month long gang war spilling out across central Scotland over a half a million pound cocaine deal - which has seen shootings, machete attacks, and homes torched and firebombed over the battle for control of drug trade.
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- Leader Live
Gregg Wallace apologises, but says he is ‘not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher'
In an interview with The Sun, the TV presenter also defended his sacked former co-host John Torode, telling the paper he is 'not a racist'. Torode was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of co-presenter Wallace. Torode said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. In November 2024 it was announced that Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. Wallace issued an apology saying he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of the Lewis Silkin review that saw 45 out of 83 allegations made against him upheld. The review concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated', with 'one incident of unwelcome physical contact' also substantiated. In fresh comments to The Sun, Wallace acknowledged that he had said things that 'offended people, that weren't socially acceptable and perhaps they felt too intimidated or nervous to say anything at the time. 'I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry.' Wallace added: 'I'm not a groper. People think I've been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher. 'People think I'm a sex pest. I am not.' Wallace also said his recent autism diagnosis means he struggles 'to read people'. 'I know people find me weird,' he said. 'Autism is a disability, a registered disability.' Pointing to the allegation against Torode, Wallace told the paper: 'I've known John for 30 years and he is not a racist. 'And as evidence of that, I'll show you the incredible diversity of the people that he has championed, MasterChef winners, over the years. 'There is no way that man is a racist. No way. And my sympathies go out to John because I don't want anybody to go through what I've been through.' It was announced this week that a series of MasterChef filmed last year before allegations against Wallace and Torode were upheld will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6. A decision on airing the celebrity series and Christmas special has not been decided, with plans to be confirmed later in the year, the BBC said. Both presenters will still feature in the upcoming series, but the edit will be looked at in light of the findings of an investigation, with focus being given to the contestants, the PA news agency understands. A BBC spokesperson said: 'After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. 'MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey. 'This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. 'In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. 'We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC. 'However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. 'We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series. 'At this stage we have not taken a decision on the celebrity series and Christmas special, which was filmed earlier this year, and we will confirm our plans later in the year. 'Most importantly MasterChef is a brilliant, much-loved programme which is bigger than any one individual. 'There are many talented, dedicated and hard-working people who make the show what it is. It will continue to flourish on the BBC and we look forward to it returning stronger than ever in the future.'
