The mafia have relaxed their rules on homosexuality, a top Italian prosecutor has revealed.

Previously even rumours of being gay were punishable by death, but now the son of a mob chief is living as a drag queen called Lady Godiva.

Anti-mafia investigator Nicola Gratteri said: ‘It undermines their image of themselves as tough, virile guys. But the mafia have evolved along with society.

Anti-mafia investigator Nicola Gratteri (pictured in 2013) has revealed the ’Ndrangheta mafia in Italy is 'going soft' on homosexuality and allowing gay men to join. Throughout his career Gratteri has intercepted calls revealing many members enjoy transvestite bars and seen ‘passionate’ letters between a crime boss and a young lieutenant

‘Gays can be accepted now, even as foot soldiers, so long as they don’t parade it in public.’

Mr Gratteri, 61, told The Sunday Times he has seen ‘passionate’ letters between a crime boss and a young lieutenant.

He has also intercepted phone conversations revealing that many mafia members enjoy transvestite bars.

Previously even rumours of being gay were punishable by death, but now the son of a mob chief is living as a drag queen called Lady Godiva. Mr Gratteri said it 'undermines [the mafia's] image of themselves as tough, virile guys'. Pictured are Carabinieri of RIS (Scientific Investigation Grouping) are preparing to search the house of the boss of 'Ndrangheta in December last year

The dad-of-two says he has lived under police protection for the past three decades, with mobsters threatening his wife and attempting the kidnap of one of his sons.

The prosecutor said he believes the ’Ndrangheta – the most powerful mob in Italy with an income of £38billion a year – is going soft.

He said: ‘The young today can’t take the stress of prison in the way their parents did. They get paranoid, depressed. They’re more fragile.’

The ‘Ndrangheta are thought to control 80 per cent of cocaine flow in Europe, part of a business that brings them £38bn a year.