Ned (short for "Benedict") was a thuggish member of Harvey Gaskell's drugs gang who turned up unannounced at Leanne Battersby's flat to await orders for the receipt of a consignment of cocaine prior to its delivery later in the day at Salford Quays to others further down the chain.
Leanne had become involved in the gang to protect her son Simon Barlow who had become unwittingly embroiled himself, firstly by being duped to be in financial hock to them, and then under threats of violent reprisal if he didn't do as ordered to work for them. Leanne stepped in to carry out their deliveries to pay off their debts to Harvey, but unable to face her conscience any more, she had confessed all to DS Glynn of Weatherfield police who both arrested her for being a dealer, and then coerced her to grass on the gang.
Leanne had alerted DS Glynn that something was afoot, and she and Simon tried to find out from Ned when he was picking up the drugs, but he grew suspicious about her questioning, demanding to know if he was being recorded, though then claiming he was just winding her up while pointing out that Harvey's revenge would be terrible indeed if he found out that she was indeed a grass. She grew impatient at his continued presence in her home and stood up to him, telling Simon it was to make their unwanted guest think she wasn't a pushover as she needed to leave the flat to alert the police about the Salford Quays rendezvous.
Claiming she urgently needed to buy sanitary towels, she left under threats to Simon as to what would happen if she alerted the police. Meeting Glynn, she passed on the details as to what was occurring, only to return to the news that the plan had changed as Harvey was suspicious that the police were on to them and Ned would be their guest until he received further instructions. His stay turned out to be overnight on the sofa. The next day, Harvey messaged Ned to say that the deal was back on and Leanne was instructed to phone in sick to work. Her mobile was then confiscated to prevent her from making contact with anyone. Later on, Harvey collected Ned and, to Leanne's horror, he also took Simon along as "insurance" for the drop-off. The boy had managed to hide his own mobile and Leanne used this to alert Glynn who arrested all three, though Simon was included only to provide a plausible cover with a promise to release him afterwards. The snatch was only partially successful as Harvey managed to get away and escape to back to Leanne's flat where the police soon caught up with him.
List of appearances[]
2021