Sergeant Swann was a policeman who attempted to track down Sam Leach when he was reported for desertion by his wife May in 1962.
Swann went around the local pubs with a photograph of Sam to find out if any landlords recognised him. When he asked Jack Walker at the Rovers Return whether Sam was a customer, Jack answered "no", leading Swann to abruptly end the conversation and leave for his next destination. However, Sam was in fact employed at the Rovers as a waiter and cellarman. Not knowing why the police were after him, Jack and Annie Walker debated whether to turn him over, with Sam ultimately handing himself in after a pep talk from Ena Sharples.