He was in a skinhead gang as a youth. Might not want to mess with him.
http://www.bodybuildbid.com/articles/mrolympia/dorian-yates.html"...He was in a gang in which he was considered a skin head, with a shaven head, steel toed boots; a cultural statement, not a racist statement. Dorian's music scene during the early years was the Clash, the Sex Pistols, PIL, etc. and on the weekends, he would go to the clubs to hang out. Dorian has lots of interesting job to pay the bills, including working in a slaughterhouse. Dorian was arrested at age 19, after a riot in which he was swept up by the police. Because of the arrest, and because England recognizes youth as being up to the age of 21, he was sentenced to six months at Whatton Youth Detention Center.
It was in here that Dorian started powerlifting and was noticed by a guard that he was very strong, and where Dorian got his new direction in life. ..."