Norman Leach was a petty criminal who attempted to blackmail Alf Roberts and assaulted Bet Lynch. In 1973, shortly after becoming Mayor for the first time, Alf was involved in a minor road accident when he used a driveway to reverse and hit an old lady calling her cat in. Although the lady involved was unharmed her son Norman wrote to Alf demanding compensation, and then called on him saying that his mother had been badly bruised down one side, spraining her wrist and was in a state of shock. He did admit though that they hadn't seen a doctor, supposedly not wishing to bother busy people. Alf saw through his attempts at blackmail and when Leach demanded £200, he showed him the door, though Leach promised he hadn't heard the last of him.