Don Beech escaped to Australia in 2000 after he murdered DS John Boulton. DS Claire Stanton, John's girlfriend went after him in 2001 and tracked him down in Sydney, but Don eventually made it back to the UK, but he was promptly arrested after taking Claire hostage.
In 2004, DI Neil Manson visited Don, his informant in prison, who passed on information to Neil about a series of jewellry robberies. In return, Don made Neil promise him a transfer to a better prison. But during the transfer the SO19 convoy dropped them off to deal with a shooting. Don persuaded Neil to let him visit his girlfriend at her home, unaware that she had a gun. Don tied Neil up and knocked Phil out, and escaped with his girlfriend on a motorbike.