‘That’s fine by me.’ He folded his arms behind his head and leaned back, a picture of relaxation.

‘I believe you have seen the listing details of your new home?’ she said.

‘It looks good. It’s a long way away from my old stamping ground, which suits me just fine. No one will recognise me.’

Leticia ran through the minutiae of the release plan, but realised he was barely listening. Finally, she tried a bit of small talk to spark some re-engagement. ‘So what’s the first thing you’ll do when you’re out?’

‘Well, I could murder a pint of proper English hand-pulled bitter. It’s been a few years since I tasted any, I can tell you. Someone told me that you can pay a fiver for a pint down here. Five pounds! When I went away, well, up in Newcastle it was only just over 75p.’

‘That was a long time ago.’

‘Before you were born, pet,’ he replied, with a wink. ‘Long before you were born.’

‘I just have to remind you of a few things,’ she said, having got his attention back. ‘On the morning of your release you will be given a package, which will contain a phone, your discharge cash and the keys to your new home. Look after them. There are no spares.’

‘I’m not a child, pet.’

‘There will also be a map showing the bus route to get to Staines. It’s quite long and involves several changes. You should be able to get there by ten thirty a.m. I will meet you at the house by eleven thirty so that we can review your release plan and see which initial objectives have been met. You must be there punctually. That’s very important.’

‘Okay. I’ll be there, don’t worry.’

She looked down at her papers. ‘There will be another meeting after four days to set further rehabilitation targets, and then it will be once a week for the first year. You also have to attend a weekly therapy course.’ She looked up at him.

‘That’s fine, pet.’ He leaned the chair back so it was balanced on just the two rear legs. He seemed perfectly relaxed. ‘But if I’m in therapy under my bogus name, I presumably have to talk about bogus crimes.’

‘I’ll have to ask my manager about that,’ Leticia conceded, then referred again to her papers. ‘If you form any kind of relationship, a girlfriend or anyone else, you must tell them about your background, and you must inform us. You understand?’

‘I understand that right enough.’ He was looking at the ceiling.

‘We would have to do a risk assessment, if this person had children.’

He nodded.

‘You must not under any circumstances contact either directly or indirectly any members of the families of your victims, nor go to within five miles of any of their homes.’