Ryan had been in trouble ever since he’d hit his twenties and quit working on Troy’s mate’s fishing boat, and gone to ‘manage’ the amusement arcade. Manage was a joke word as he’d spent as much on machines as the youngsters who came in. He’d run up debts and borrowed money. Sam was very worried about the people he hung around with, a bunch of wasters from Porthmellow and roundabout. She was convinced he was going to end up in trouble, but he seemed to get by; breezing along as usual, pretending everything was fine.

What Sam didn’t know – until Gabe found out and told her – was that to pay off his debts, Ryan was planning to take part in a robbery of the arcade where he worked. Even worse, the same gang were also planning to rob various premises in Porthmellow. They were people who Ryan knew well, and drank with in the pub; friends of the Lovells who’d helped them after their mother had died. Sam’s stomach clenched at the memory, even now.

Gabe had come to the cottage and told her that he’d discovered Ryan had been involved and that he was going to have to call the police. Sam loved Gabe, but Ryan was family. She’d known he was no saint but had no idea exactly how much trouble he was in.

She’d pleaded with Gabe not to shop Ryan, convinced that if he could only have another chance, he’d turn over a new leaf. But Gabe had gone ahead anyway.

Ryan and the gang were arrested while the robbery was in progress but that was only the start of even more turmoil. While he was awaiting trial, Ryan had refused to come home and stayed with some ‘mate’. He said he felt guilty for letting down his sisters and was too ashamed of the village’s reaction. He told Sam he never wanted to come back, even though he loved her and Zennor.

Even though Sam knew he deserved his punishment, he was her flesh and blood. She was shocked when he’d been given a custodial sentence of eighteen months, but thought that with her support he’d get through it. After the first time she’d visited him in prison, he’d refused to see her again, telling her he didn’t want his sister in such a place. Even after he’d finished his sentence, he told Sam he was too ashamed to come back to Porthmellow and wanted a fresh start, away from his past.

Sam recalled his words: ‘I’m toxic for this family. Don’t forget me, but accept that I can’t go back to the bad days and that means staying away.’