Norman Phillips was a detective constable with the CID who crossed paths with the residents of Coronation Street on three occasions in the mid-1970s. In October 1974, Phillips and Det. Sergeant Taylor responded to a tip-off that Billy Walker was holding stolen jackets from the Mark Brittain Warehouse in a van he was servicing at the Canal Garage. When the jackets were found, Billy was taken to the police station and questioned by Taylor, while Phillips investigated the circumstances of their theft from the warehouse storeroom. Warehouse executive Ken Barlow and storeman Fred Bolton were surprised to find the items missing, which cast suspicion on Fred as it was his job to know where the stock was. Phillips suspected that Fred and Billy were middle men but only had evidence to charge Billy.