Tom was an old friend of Pat Phelan's who bought a stolen pick-up truck, originally intended for Webster's Autocentre, from him in January 2017. The intermediary on the spot was a hapless Andy Carver who was being blackmailed by Phelan into carrying out his bidding. Tom handed over the cash for the vehicle, amused by Andy's nervous manner and likened Phelan to the lad in a school class who pulled the wings off flies and enjoyed praying on people's weaknesses.