Man underwent a makeover to become version of Jeremy Meeks

Leevon Birchall (pictured) was seen posing with a cigar in his mouth after he underwent a TOWIE-style makeover

A ‘plastic gangster’ who got his teeth whitened and eyebrows waxed after being inspired by US ‘hot felon’ Jeremy Meeks has been jailed for four years. 

Leevon Birchall, 24, was well known in Salford, Greater Manchester, and was left scarred for life when he was stabbed 24 times by a rival gang.

He underwent a TOWIE-style makeover and tried to become the British version of Meeks, who rose to notoriety after his police mugshot went viral. 

Birchall was arrested last August after he and fellow gang members were spotted waving a baseball bat at rival hoodlums armed with a machete outside House of Fraser in Manchester.  

At Manchester Crown Court, Birchall – who is reputed to be a member of the ‘A-Team’ gang in Salford – appeared via video link from his prison cell.

He admitted affray, possessing an offensive weapon plus other offences of possessing cannabis with intent to supply. 

Birchall was seen to style his hair and look in a mirror as he waited for his case to start and was later jailed for four years. 

The hoodlum was just 19 when he was issued with a court injunction dubbed the ‘Gang-bo’ in 2012 after he was targeted by police investigating a vicious gun war. 

Under the court order he was banned from contacting with three gangland associates but Birchall later post snaps of himself with one of them saying: ‘We live the diamond life’ and ‘f*** the system.’

He also bragged of being ‘The Face of Salford’ before posting tweets saying: ‘I want to travel the world and f*** everything with a pulse in different countries.’

Birchall later got jail for breaching the order and for a vicious raid using CS gas – but then had his makeover after police issued a mugshot of him.

Birchall (pictured) was well known in his hometown and bragged about being the 'Face of Salford'

Birchall (pictured) was well known in his hometown and bragged about being the ‘Face of Salford’

Birchall before the makeover

Jeremy Meeks

Birchall (left) underwent a makeover and tried to become the British version of Jeremy Meeks (right) 

Birchall (pictured) admitted affray, possessing an offensive weapon plus other offences of possessing cannabis with intent to supply

Birchall (pictured) admitted affray, possessing an offensive weapon plus other offences of possessing cannabis with intent to supply

He subsequently posted pictures of himself with a Mark Wright-style quiff, new teeth and tinted eyebrows, and wearing shiny watches and drinking cocktails.

One image showed him on holiday chewing a cigar saying: ‘I’m eating Christmas dinner in the sun. What are you doing?’ 

He added: ‘At the end of the day you’ve got to feel someway, so why not feel unbeatable why not feel untouchable why not feel the best to ever do it.

‘Plenty of more cocktails to come plenty of more holidays more shoes and bags for you my right arm. 

‘Everyone enjoy the Christmas season this is my first once since 2011 and I f***ing love it.’

In June last year Birchall was ambushed by three men in balaclavas who stabbed him repeatedly before escaping in a car driven by a fourth man. 

He was heard shouting: ‘come on boys’ during the assault but was left critically ill and was on the danger list for over a week after undergoing emergency surgery to save his life.

Simon Barrett, prosecuting, said Birchall was arrested after fighting broke out at 1pm on August 23 between two groups of men. 

Mr Barrett said: ‘The defendant was the one holding a baseball bat swinging it towards the other men. 

‘One of the other group then ran to a vehicle and pulled out a machete and started following the defendant with it.

‘There were a lot of people about in this public street in Manchester and members of the public were concerned for their safety. 

Birchall pictured in 2012

He has been jailed for four years

The hoodlum (pictured) was just 19 when he was issued with a court injunction dubbed the ‘Gang-bo’ in 2012

Birchall (pictured after his TOWIE-style makeover) also bragged of being 'The Face of Salford'

Birchall (pictured after his TOWIE-style makeover) also bragged of being ‘The Face of Salford’

Birchall (pictured) is reputed to be a member of the 'A-Team' gang in Salford 

Birchall (pictured) is reputed to be a member of the ‘A-Team’ gang in Salford 

‘All those related to the case have been identified but nobody else has been charged.’

The court heard police also charged Birchall with drug dealing after his car was stolen and officers who traced the vehicle discovered his mobile phone inside which had a ‘debtors list’ and messages saying he was owned £4,500. 

A jacket with £383 cash inside plus cannabis were also discovered in the vehicle.

Mark Brown, defending, said: ‘The defendant has been entirely realistic and he fully understands that only an immediate custodial sentence can apply. 

‘The affray was serious incident but it was a relatively short offence and thankfully nobody was injured.

‘He is in a stable relationship and has been undertaking a gym instructing course whilst in prison and hopes to gain lawful employment on his release from prison – and aims to become a law abiding citizen.’

But sentencing Birchall, Mr Recorder Paul Reid QC, said: ‘You were behaving in an aggressive and violent way towards another group of young men, what looks like a gang fight. 

‘You are in possession of a baseball bat, running at the other group with it and causing them to flee. They then return with a machete and come towards your group and everyone disappears at that stage.

‘A number of members of the public witnesses this in broad daylight and it must have been a terrifying experience for them. A number of them had to take safety in nearby shops and this was a disgraceful scene.’ 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk