But Carr was confident that the hum of the generator, and the noise from the multiple aircon units protruding from the walls of the villa, would mask the crack of his shots to anyone who wasn’t close.

Anyone who was close would see him coming anyway.

It would be the last thing they did see.

Facing them were Fred and Geordie, the method-of-entry team.

They were armed with Minimis – more cumbersome, true, but they would need that sheer firepower once they were inside the confines of the walls. Room clearances would be down to Carr and McMullen.

Skelton was at the back, watching their rear.

Fred West was at the front – he would create the breach, provide the entry point.

There are many ways to effect entry. Sometimes you blow a man-sized hole in a wall. Sometimes you smash down the door with a sledgehammer, or take off the hinges with a shotgun, or just turn the handle. In this case, West would simply knock on the door.

Once the guy on the other side started to open it, Fred would lean forward, give it a push, and stand back as the entry men went through and started their killing.

Just to his left, placed against the wall, was an explosive entry charge which he had constructed.

This was a highly unpredictable moment, and you always want an alternative in case something goes wrong. If the man at the gate somehow got wind of them, and refused to open up, they would quickly reconfigure and use the charge to blow the whole of the main gates off.

And now Carr watched as the man from the West Country did a final check to make sure that he could see the connector for the M57 initiation device – or ‘clacker’ – which was attached to his left leg.

When activated, it would send an electrical impulse to the detonator, causing a small explosion which would, in turn, activate the main plastic explosive charge.

If the initial entry plan did fail, then it would take Fred mere moments to connect the initiator and detonate the explosives.

Carr hefted his Diemaco in his hands, and checked that the safety was off.

He took a long, slow breath, and aimed the muzzle at the gate.

Behind him, Kevin McMullen reached forward and pushed his left hand beyond Carr’s shoulder, giving him a clear thumbs-up to signal that he was ready to go, before gripping his own Diemaco and following his leader’s aim.

Carr glanced down at his watch.

Seven minutes since the guard had exited to conduct his perimeter check, and now Carr heard movement from inside the compound.

Obviously his mate, coming back to get ready to open the judas gate on the signal.

It was time.

He looked directly at Geordie and Fred, nodding once he had made eye contact.

A few seconds, now.

Carr steeled himself, preparing mentally for what was to come, running through the drill.