Big Garth

Big Garth was a market trader who had worked with Chesney Brown on the Weatherfield Market in the early 2010s. In 2019 he manned his curio stall on a market set up on Victoria Street for a day where he was approached by Paul Foreman with a ring he wanted to sell to him. He had stolen it earlier from a a box of items held in Jamila House that had been donated by Roy Cropper from the belongings of his mother Sylvia Goodwin who had died a couple of weeks before. The items were intended for a bring-and-buy sale being organised by Billy Mayhew.

Garth examined the ring with a jeweller's eye glass and declared it a fake, the "diamonds" being polished glass buffed up to sparkle, but nevertheless he knew he would be able to sell it on and they agreed on a price of £200 cash.

In the meantime, Paul's sister Gemma Winter had been involved in a conversation between Roy and Billy in which Roy lamented the loss of the ring which he estimated to be worth between £3,000 to £4,000. She confronted her brother who denied any involvement with the theft until his face gave away his guilt when told its true value and he realised just how much Garth had ripped him off. The twins confronted the trader who refused to return the item, even in return for the £200 and free kebab from Prima Doner. Instead, they surreptitiously climbed into the back of his unlocked van and found the item and left the £200 but were prevented from escaping when Garth locked his vehicle, not realising the two thieves were inside it.

Gemma rang Chesney on her mobile for help and he and his girlfriend Emma Brooker posed as an engaged couple shopping for a ring with a budget of £1,000. They banked on Garth opening the van to retrieve an item which he said suited their needs. As planned, Emma went into false faint as the side door to the van was pushed back and as Garth helped the young girl back to his stall, Paul and Gemma attempted their escape. Things went wrong when Paul knocked over a box of items as he climbed down and all four were caught in the act.

Garth offered the ring back for £500 and was ready to call the police when this was refused. Chesney knew the man too well and threatened to tell the police himself about Garth's "private stash" of items that he knew he possessed and which he also knew he was desperate to keep from the attentions of the law. Garth had no option to give the ring back in return for the £200.