Arnie Scanlan was a fellow-inmate of Les Battersby's when he was sentenced to serve six months at Strangeways Jail in 2003 for assaulting PC Mick Hopwood, a charge for which he was entirely innocent. Les swore revenge on Mick and fellow copper Emma Watts who had backed up his false testimony in court. Hearing that Emma and Curly had plans to move to Newcastle, Les thought he had lost his chance of getting even but Arnie, who was being released, offered to try and help delay the sale, after Les had turned down his offer to personally settle the score with Emma.