When Les Battersby was sentenced to six months at Strangeways Jail in 2003 for assaulting PC Mick Hopwood, a charge for which he was entirely innocent, he swore revenge on Mick and fellow copper Emma Watts who had backed up his false testimony in court. Hearing that Emma and Curly had plans to move to Newcastle, Les thought he had lost his chance of getting even but fellow inmate Arnie Scanlan, who was being released, offered to try and help delay the sale after Les had turned down his offer to personally settle the score with Emma.