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Former mob members have shown an insight into their violent pasts for the first time.

The tattoos etched onto the bodies of crime bosses tell the stories of some of the most ruthless bandits of the post-war period.

A tattoo artist has gained exclusive access into the underworld of the Italian mafia, revealing the dark secrets of the mobs most ruthless criminals.

The city of Naples is home to some of the country's toughest gangs and is rife with mafia crime carried out by the notorious Camorra syndicate.

The Camorra is one of the oldest, largest and bloodiest criminal organisations in Italy, dating back to the 17th century.

The Napoleon mob is said to have killed thousands, and is involved drug trafficking, racketeering, business, politics, toxic waste and even the garbage disposal industry.

Murderers and thieves have told how their violent lives in Italy’s bloodiest mafia are mapped in their tattoos.

Aprea Ciro explained how he grew up in an area ruled by the NCO, and ended up as a mafia boss after he was “forced” to join the mob.

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

“I committed something bad, something that hurt someone.

“So I was forced to join this clan in order to save my life.”

New Organised Camorra was a hierarchical camorra criminal organisation.

It was founded by Raffaele Cutolo, aka “The Professor”, in the late 1970s.

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

Ciro explained how he has a tattoo to let others know his position in the mob.

“NCO was a very hierarchical organisation.

“Picciotto, camorrista, boss and boss of bosses.

“Every one of us had a title.

“I had the third one, sgarrista.

“It’s symbol was a little cross on the right finger, so that it was easier to be recognised.

“By looking at our hands, they could understand our title.”

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

When he joined, Ciro claims he was “forced” to in order to save his own life.

“I was accused of several murders in Naples.

“I was managing a gaming house.

“Neapolitan organised criminals used to gather there to play Lansquenet.

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

“This card game was often the occasion for further revenge, not only in Naples but in the whole region.

“We were a fire team. I’m not proud of it but I was too young to understand.

“Our motto was: “Kill or be killed.”

Ciro, 59, said he had never been arrested for the ten murders he had committed.

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

Another mafia member, covered head to toe in ink, explained the meaning behind one of his tattoos.

“I spent six years in jail because I slashed someone", he said.

“He deserved it, that’s all.

“Maybe he deserved more than he had."

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

Another mafia boss was so committed to the crime family he tattooed the mob’s name onto his body.

Explaining his ink, he said: “Tattoos are a serious issue.

“Every tattoo has its own meaning.

“For example, the ace of bastoni means “boss”.

“Other common tattoos were the eyes on the shoulders or ACAB on the feet.

“I got ‘Nuova Camorra Organizzata’ inked on my body because of faith, because I believed in that organisation.”

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

One even got tattoos on his penis, he explained: “I have some tattoos on my penis.

“I got the writing 'all for you' and the five dots of criminality.”

Another told how his tattoos haunt him even today, saying: "When I was out, every time I went to the seaside I used to wear my bathrobe until getting into the water."

He explained how tattoos were associated with crime and the mob, so his hid them from the world after his time locked up.

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

He added: “I had to cover up all my body as inked people were avoided by everyone.

“We were discriminated and treated as beasts or as we had scabies.

“I always feel like I’m being watched and thus judged because my tattoos clearly say that I’ve been in jail.

“They are different to today’s ones. Nowadays it’s just fashion.”

(Image: MAMMA VITA MIA)

The bosses spoke to Naples tattoo artist Braian Anastasio and photographer Giuseppe Di Vaio for a documentary Mamma Vita Mia.

It looks exclusively into the lives of former mafia bosses - going into their homes, eating with them and gaining a never-before-seen insight into their lifetime of violence, documented through their tattoos.

The film will be premiered at the London Tattoo Convention this weekend.