‘Go, go, go!’ he shouted.

The Land Rover drove off at speed, ripping the gates from the brick pillars.

George was in his study and heard the noise. Looking out of the window he saw Murphy and his team coming down the driveway, sirens blaring. George grabbed the phone to call Tommy.

The unmarked police cars slid through the gravel as they came to a halt. An officer jumped out with a battering ram and smashed it against the Yale lock on the door, which splintered and flew open.

Murphy, Kingston and two other armed officers raced in, shouting, ‘Armed police! Stay where you are!’

Tommy didn’t answer. George put the phone down, calmly picked up the News of the World and started reading it as Murphy and Kingston rushed in, pointing their guns at him.

‘Don’t fucking move, George,’ Murphy said.

He smiled and slowly put the paper down.

‘If you’d rung the doorbell, I’d have let you in. Who should I send the repair bill to?’

Kingston holstered his gun and got his handcuffs out. George put his arms out and held his wrists together ready to be cuffed.

‘Is the lovely Jane not with you?’

Murphy and Kingston ignored him.

‘Is she a good fuck?’ George smirked.

Kingston punched him hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

‘George Ripley, I am arresting you on suspicion of armed robbery. You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so, but what you say may be put into writing and given in evidence.’

‘You ain’t got fuck all on me,’ he gasped, then spat on the ground at Kingston’s feet and got another hard punch to the stomach for his disrespect.

As they led him towards the front door, the normally truculent Maureen stood quietly in the hallway. She’d known the day would come when George would be arrested again. This time she hoped they had enough evidence to lock him up and throw away the key.

‘Maureen, phone Tony Nichols and tell him I’ve been nicked,’ George told her.

She nodded.

‘Save yourself the bother, luv – Tony Nichols will be in the cell next to him,’ Murphy said with a satisfied smile.

*

Tony Nichols was returning to his house with his wife after a pub lunch. She was driving her BMW and he was in the passenger seat. As they approached their house, he suddenly pulled the lever to drop the seat back so he couldn’t be seen.

‘Keep going, don’t park at the house,’ he snapped, having spotted the unmarked police cars nearby.

‘Why? What’s wrong?’

‘Just do as I say – keep going.’

When they were well away from the house, he told her to stop.

‘Go back on foot. If the CID come calling, tell them you’ve been out for a walk and you don’t know where I am.’