Three months into their relationship Serena arrived at their rendezvous in tears. Richard finally persuaded her to confide in him and she tearfully related how she was being evicted from her little rented flat. The landlord, she claimed, was forever making lewd suggestions and spying on her at all times of the day and night. The man had given her an ultimatum – if she refused to sleep with him, he would evict her. Richard was livid and in a fit of uncharacteristic bravado wanted to go round and sort the landlord out, but Serena persuaded him not to. During the evening, buying an apartment became a plan rather than a vague idea for the future.

Richard remembered drinking too much and promising whatever Serena wanted, which instantly lifted her mood. She assured him she could stay at a friend’s house in the meantime and wouldn’t have to face her landlord again, and within only two days, Serena had discovered the ‘most perfect little place’ in Portishead. She took to calling it their ‘love nest’ and was so excited at the prospect of having somewhere for them to meet other than hotels. It was at that point Richard realised he was irrevocably committed.

During negotiations on the apartment, Serena suggested he bought it in her name only, pointing out that when he left Martha, his wife would be entitled to a half share of everything they owned. It seemed prudent to buy the apartment in Serena’s name so Martha couldn’t touch it in a divorce settlement. Thinking the property to be a good investment, Richard agreed and the apartment was purchased in Serena’s name.

It wasn’t long before Richard realised his mistake but resigned himself to living with it and reasoned that at least he was saving on hotel bills. Ironically, the apartment would have been a good investment in different circumstances. Portishead was conveniently situated, only a half-hour drive from Bristol, and the purchase price of just under two hundred thousand pounds was a bargain for the quality of the build in such a desirable area.

Richard was confident of replacing the money over time, and as he was the one who looked after the household finances, Martha would never find out. Fate dealt him a cruel blow when Danny was taken at a time when their finances were so low and he couldn’t raise the money for the ransom.