Brian Collett was an employee at Fosters who had a date with Mavis Riley through a computer dating agency in September 1975. The date left Mavis scared and upset, causing her to go into hiding for a day. Returning to work at The Kabin, Mavis gave Rita Littlewood the low-down on her date from hell: dining at the Bay Horse on Liverpool Road, Brian had acted queer and said strange things, such as asking if she liked hairy men, and given her an envelope containing a lock of hair. Since the date, Mavis had suspected Brian was following her and was jumpy whenever someone entered The Kabin. Finding Brian's details and photograph in Mavis's handbag, Rita sent Jerry Booth, Mavis's one-time boyfriend who was still protective of her, to investigate Brian.