The Masked Man was one of two robbers who held up the Viaduct Bistro wanting a valuable consignment of drugs that had just been delivered there on the orders of co-owner Damon Hay. He had bought into the business when Nick Tilsley was desperate for a cash injection, intending to use the restaurant's supply chain as a cover for bringing drugs into the country from his Ibiza operations. Damon was in conflict with the men and their gang, both parties vying for supremacy in Weatherfield's drugs war.
His opponents had somehow got wind of the arrival of the drugs and staged their own snatch. At the time, there were few customers and staff, with Nick, Damon and Leanne Battersby in the Rovers and Ryan Connor manning the bar. The two men entered, demanded the drugs and fired a warning shot when Ryan answered truthfully that he had no idea what they were talking about. Sam Blakeman was waiting for his dad in one of the booths and rang Nick to tell him what was happening. He and Leanne came running in when they had heard the shot as they were making their way back down Coronation Street, followed soon after by Damon who was more circumspect and only came in when the man was pointing his weapon at the people inside. He tackled him from behind, wrestling for possession of the weapon. The man scarpered through the back, together with his compatriot, with Damon is supposed close pursuit, but actually more interested in getting the drugs off the premises before the inevitable arrival of the police.