[film projector whirring]
- All I ask is a tall ship and a star to sail her by.
All I ask is a tall ship and a star to sail her by.
Is that enough? [laughing]
[soft melodic music] - Yeah.
- Can I keep this, 'cause this is written by Richard.
I can frame this, can't I?
- [Director] Yeah, that's how it'll all begin.
[both laughing] [film projector whirring]
[soft orchestral music] - Hello, Princess.
[football players chattering]
- [Boy] Billy pass that one.
- [Boy] Shouldn't we do corners?
[ball thudding]
Shouldn't we do one corner? - Billy, Billy!
- Do a corner! - Billy, Billy!
- Yes. - Here he is.
- Oh God. - Oh!
[football players chattering]
- [Manager] Here, give me ball, here, give me a nice one.
- [Boy] Billy, give us that one there.
- [Boy] Layton, Layton!
- [Boy] Harry.
- Yes, sir. - Getting my team sorted out.
We're getting the team sorted.
[onlookers chattering]
The small ones are playing.
Billy, Billy! - Oh!
- [Manager] Come in the box, lads.
[football players chattering]
Get that side of him, Billy, Billy take your hat off.
You wouldn't have your hat on, son.
[ball thudding] [football players chattering]
- Go on, he's in! [ball thudding]
- [Boy] Oh, man, what are you doing?
- [Manager] Tim, get that ball, play a nice ball.
[football players chattering]
- Get in! - Celebrate!
- Celebrate!
[football players chattering]
- [Manager] Defence, step out again,
so he's got a bit on the edge.
- [Boy] Squish on him.
- [Boy] Go ahead, kick!
[ball thudding] Yeah!
- [Scout] Who's the striker?
- Lad up front, it's Stephen Sayers.
[players laughing]
- Where do you think you're going?
- Away home for my tea.
- [sighing] Don't be smart with me, son.
You been pinching car radios again, haven't you?
[blow thudding] [Stephen coughing]
Say summat then. - Nee comment.
[blow thudding]
- Fucking Sayers.
- [Narrator] This is a story, a true one,
but a story nonetheless, the story of one Stephen Sayers.
Stephen lived with his family in York Street, Elswick,
it was the beating heart of Newcastle
and he had an elder brother, John
and a younger brother, Michael.
Their mother, Yvonne was a civil servant
and a member of Mensa.
Their dad, John Brian had a haulage company,
that delivered beer to the local pubs.
He also owned a scrapyard on the quayside.
[sirens wailing in distance]
But perhaps most importantly,
I should mention, he was a very, very good villain.
[door thudding]
- What's going on? - In here, Sarge!
- You are not getting in here without a WPC.
- We've a warrant to search these premises
for John Brian Sayers. [Yvonne sighing]
She's right though, as usual.
Someone get me a WPC up here now!
Hello, son, where's your dad?
- No comment.
[policeman laughing]
[hand slapping]
- What do you think you're doing?
He's just a bairn, man!
Look, he's not here.
- He can't hide forever, Yvonne.
- He's not here.
- And when that bastard shows his face,
I'll be there to nick him.
- Just get out of my house.
You're all right, son, come here.
Okay, okay, all right.
[birds chirping]
They fascinate a lot of people.
[faucet water running]
[talking on radio in background]
[button clicking]
[lid clicking]
[kettle rumbling quietly]
[button clicking]
[teaspoon tapping]
[door thudding]
- I heard them last night, what a racket to make.
- It's like this all the time.
- Really?
- Aye, I'm gonna have to make another complaint.
- Yeah, you should.
I mean your stress levels must be through the roof.
[Yvonne laughing]
[sirens wailing in distance]
- [Yvonne] Nash, Stephen, move.
[door clicking]
[door thudding]
[sirens wailing]
[zipper zipping]
- Imagine how many sweets we could get with that.
- How much do you think there is?
- About three million, we could even buy Newcastle United!
- [Narrator] The boys' mother only ever wanted them
to have a proper education.
- Be gentle with them, John, they're only bairns.
- [Narrator] But their father wanted them to be streetwise.
- Gentle, you think the bizzies
are gonna be gentle with them?
Hello, lads.
Got my bag?
Have you had a look in it?
- [Boys] Aye, we did.
- Where's our cut?
- Your cut, experience is your cut.
All right?
- You two, you've got chores to do around the house.
- And? What about Michael? - He's doing his homework.
- Oh, that's not fair, he always gets off.
- Come on.
- [Narrator] Every day, there would be a new test.
Pass that test, well, they'd get the back of his hand.
They'd call that a result. Why, you might ask?
- What the fuck's going on here?
- Your dinner's in the oven, kids are doing their homework.
- Homework?
Homework?
It's not fucking homework these needs, man,
it's street experience.
- It's got to be in for tomorrow.
- [Narrator] Well, if you failed one of his tests...
well, it just didn't bear thinking about.
[glass thudding]
- Good lads, never put your fingerprints on anything
the bizzies can get a hold of.
What do you say if a bizzy stops you?
- [Boys] No comment.
- That's enough, John.
[hand thudding]
[belt slapping] [Yvonne gasping]
[belt slapping] No!
[belt slapping] [Yvonne groaning]
[belt slapping] [Yvonne whimpering]
[John grunting]
[Yvonne whimpers]
[belt slapping] [Yvonne groaning]
[Yvonne breathing heavily]
Don't fucking hit me!
Does it make it you feel like a fucking man?
[blows thudding] Uh, uh, uh!
[blows thudding] [Yvonne groaning loudly]
[Yvonne spitting]
[blow thudding] Uh!
[Yvonne coughing]
[Yvonne groaning]
- [Narrator] They spent many a night in that kennel
as they watched their father
take out his drink-fueled temper on their mother.
That kind of thing traumatises you,
it stays with you for life.
But seeing those beatings hardened those boys,
they formed a stronger bond.
Nobody would ever hurt the Sayers boys again.
Looking back, of course, they never stood a chance.
- Get the kettle on, Yvonne, I'm parched.
- [Narrator] They were only ever going to take one path.
- Where's your dad, is he not up yet?
- Sleeping it off. - Morning, boys.
- And ah, how did you get that?
Walked into a door?
- Something like that.
- Look, seriously, do you want me to say something to him?
- No, there's no point. - Who's coming with me?
- [Narrator] Stephen loved those days
working with his Uncle Albert, early to rise
and after a quick breakfast,
it would be down into the town to set up their pitch.
He loved the smells, the noise
and the hustle of the city life.
And once the store was set up,
Stephen would keep watch for the Old Bill.
[background people chattering]
- This is perfect, are you this man's wife?
Try that and see what you think of that.
- [Narrator] One Old Bill in particular,
affectionately known as the Lanky Streak of Piss
delighted in nicking some of the old boys,
who thought because of time served,
they didn't need a permit.
- Aye, I bet they're worth they're weight in gold.
- How fucking rude.
- Sorry, madam, look, you can have that for a fiver,
he's a cheeky bugger. [woman sighing]
Let out on the street, I'll tell you, thank you very much.
- [Narrator] And Sayers was the only name.
- Heads up! - He was determined to have
in his little notebook. - Your cash, Uncle.
- Christmas box, aye. - Stop!
- What do you think you're doing?
- Can I be of assistance, Officer?
- Licence please, Mr. Sayers?
- Licence, Officer?
- Your street trading licence, Mr. Sayers.
- I think you're mistaken, Officer.
I've got no money with me and these are not for sale.
- What are these?
- Well, they're gifts for my family, the Sayers,
you might've heard of us, you know, we're a big family.
- I wasn't born yesterday, Mr. Sayers
and I know a wrong'un when I see one, go on, on your way.
[Albert chuckling]
[background people chattering]
- [Narrator] He might not have been
the top of his class at school,
but Stephen was getting a great education on the street.
He started with car radios, a very good place to start,
then he moved on to the cars themselves.
Well, makes for a quicker getaway, doesn't it?
Stephen started to spend a lot more time
down at the scrapyard, his mother and father split up,
he'd moved in with another woman
with a ready made family and that hurt.
Spending time at that scrapyard
was the only way he would see his dad.
- You should be at school.
What you took on that car? - Sold the battery
from the Escort and I sold the Cortina too.
- We haven't got a Cortina.
Have you been choring cars again?
- And where's the Jag gone?
- Sold that too.
- That was my car, you stupid, little bastard!
- [Narrator] With money in his pockets,
it wasn't long before the bright lights
of Newcastle's nightlife pulled Stephen in,
like a moth to a flame.
- Yeah, I think that's an enough for tonight, mate.
- Don't be fucking silly. - You fucking joking?
- [Westender] I only wanna get in the fucking pub.
- What are you swearing at me for?
- 'Cause I fucking want to. - Eh?
- [Westender] I'm in here every fucking night.
- No, but I haven't told you anything, mate.
- [Westender] Do you know who you're talking to,
you fucking idiot? - No, I don't actually.
- Eh? - You're the fucking idiot!
[blow thudding]
[men scuffling]
- Come on then! - You bastard!
- Fuck off! - You cunt!
You cunt! - Fucking give him it!
- [Westender] You think you're hard, do you?
- Give him it! [blow thudding]
See you later, you fuck- - Do you want some too?
[blows thudding] Fuck take it, fuck you!
[blows thudding] - You fucker, fuck you!
- You fucking think you're tough?
Fucking shite, let's see it!
[traffic rumbling quietly]
- Oi, cunts! [car doors thudding]
Aye, it is you, go on, Stephen, go on, lads.
- [Westender] I didn't know you'd left school, huh, yeah?
- Do it! - Yeah?
- Get him! - Come on then, do it.
[all shouting]
Get in the car, Stephen, get in!
[car doors thudding] [car revving]
[car brakes screeching]
[Sharon sobbing]
- So what did you see, anything, anything at all?
Did you see them speeding? Whatever you can remember.
[Sharon sobbing]
You just have to tell us what's wrong.
- It's, it's, it's [sobbing].
- What?
- It's my chips. [sobbing]
- [Narrator] This was not his finest hour,
arrested on a hospital trolley with two sprained ankles.
The next stop, Pilgrim Street Police Station.
- Come on, lad, what are you doing down there? Get up.
- Do you wanna take them off him before someone gets hurt?
- Good point.
- And help him up, would you?
[crutches clattering]
[Desk Sergeant sighing]
Name and date of birth?
Strong, silent type, eh?
Help him downstairs, we'll let you sleep it off.
We'll try again in the morning.
[Stephen thudding]
- Sarge, Sarge, help, he's attacked us!
- All right, lad, you've had your fun.
Lock him up.
- [Narrator] Stephen, Tom and Joe were charged
with GBH and ABH with intent.
- Will the accused please stand?
- [Narrator] They would spend a month on remand
and were tried at Kenton Bar Court six months later.
[gavel banging]
Tom was a few years older than Stephen and Joe,
so got a two stretch.
Next up was Joe who got six months,
and our Stephen?
Well, he got his first taste of porridge in Borstal.
- What have we here then?
Another little toerag from the West End?
What's your name?
Didn't you hear me, boy,
What is your name?
[blow thudding]
- Try that again, I'll do you.
[blow thudding] - Uh!
- [Narrator] Perhaps you're wondering
why he didn't tell him what happened.
Screw or no screw, Stephen was no grass.
Borstal was designed to give you a short, sharp shock,
you certainly weren't supposed to enjoy it,
but that's exactly what Stephen did, he loved it
and over the next couple of years, he was in and out again
quicker than you could say, "No comment, Sarge."
[background people chattering]
[men scuffling]
[blows thudding] [men grunting]
He made a few friends along the way, one was a lad
from a place called Southbank in Middlesborough
and that lad, by all accounts knew how to fight.
- Any last words?
[blow thudding]
[basher thudding to floor]
Aye, goodnight.
Thanks, mate.
I owe you one.
My name's Stephen Sayers.
- I know who you are, pal, I'm the Duffer.
- Stephen.
- Frankie, how are you doing, cuz?
- Good to see you, mate, long time, no see.
- Blame the judge for that.
- Now I'm under strict instructions to take you
straight to the bar to see your family.
- I could do with a little livener first.
- [Frankie] How's that?
[upbeat dance music]
♪ Freedom
- So what have I missed then, Frankie?
- Nothing at all, Stephen,
same shit different day round here.
- Good to see you. - And you.
- Frankie. - Looking well, bro.
- Not half as good as you.
- When you get yourself five minutes, I need a word.
- [Narrator] Every firm needs a good card-marker
and these lads definitely had one.
- Lads. - All right, Mick,
how's tricks?
- I've got us a good little bookie doing very well,
if you're interested. - How many handed?
- It's an easy one, two-handed gaff,
he leaves five o'clock every Saturday,
he's as good as clockwork and he gets his case
and he puts it on the passenger seat.
[background people chattering]
- [Stephen] Let's do it.
- [Narrator] If that decade saw Stephen
serve his apprenticeship as a villain,
the one that followed saw him and his brothers
climb to the top of the tree, the very top.
But of course, what goes up.
A pop and seize could bag them
anything up to 12 large on a good day.
At times, it was like taking candy from a baby.
[upbeat dance music]
As quick as they were making money, they were spending it.
These were young Geordie lads and they loved a night out,
like moths to a flame, remember?
[upbeat dance music continues]
With drink came drugs,
with money came women.
It was a lifestyle they enjoyed
and so they realised they needed a bigger and better way
of funding that lifestyle.
[soft tense music]
[gun clicking]
[car rumbling]
[tense music]
- [John] Get out of the van!
- Stay in the fucking van! - Cunt.
- [Stephen] Get the out of the van
and throw your fucking keys out!
- [John] Tell them to open that door
or I'm gonna blow your fucking head off!
[tense music continues]
Fuck.
Time, time, time!
[car doors thudding] [tyres screeching]
- [Narrator] The wages were good
and the hours weren't too bad either
and they say practise makes perfect.
- If you lads pull this off,
you're gonna go down in history.
- Where's it at?
- [laughing] Sunderland.
- You're talking about the Post Office, aren't you?
- Yep.
- How much are we looking at?
- Maybe more.
- Fucking hell!
- When, when?
- It'll be next week. - Next week.
- It doesn't give us much time, that.
Doesn't that van have a police escort?
- Yeah, it's supposed to, but I've been watching it
for the past few weeks and I'm telling you,
they're getting lazy. - What do you mean?
- Well, they're supposed to follow the van
right the way back to the depot,
but for the past three weeks,
they've been tailing off at the bridge.
- Why?
- Donuts.
- Eh? - Right,
there's a mobile cafe, if you turn left at the bridge,
where they've been going to get coffee and donuts,
instead of turning right and following the van.
- What about the depot?
- [laughing] What about it?
There's one gate between you lads and the prize,
you just need to get through them.
- How do we know when to strike?
- I've got a spot across the road, like a vantage point.
You just need somebody there with a radio
to give you the heads up.
So,
what yous thinking?
- Let's do it.
- [Narrator] 12th of August, Stephen's birthday
and one he would remember for all the right reasons.
[soft orchestral opera music]
[vocalists singing in Italian]
[soft opera music continues]
It's the 12th August, you're listening to Alan Robson here
on GCFC. We go now live to Detective Jeff Scott
who's leading the investigation into the spate of armed
robberies on Tyneside. Thanks for joining us Detective Scott
what can you tell us?
- An armed robbery took place on Tyneside today,
the perpetrators making off
with a substantial amount of cash.
The raid was carried out with split second timing
and what can only be described as military precision.
We're appealing for people to come forward,
who may have seen the incident take place.
We are dealing with a new breed of criminal.
Good morning and ah, welcome to our daily briefing.
So, are we any further forward on yesterday's robbery?
- We have done a thorough forensic search of the Range Rover
but found no prints or anything of significance, sir.
- Witnesses, anybody talking?
- The robbers were masked up, boiler suits, local accents
and they were in and out,
very organised, military precision.
- This has Sayers' fingerprints all over it.
Look, if we don't put a stop to this now,
then the streets of Newcastle are gonna become
like the streets of New York and I won't have that here,
not on my watch.
- So sir, where do you suggest we start?
[phone ringing]
- Iceton.
[background office workers bustling]
Sir, there's a lady on the front desk,
says she can identify one of the robbers.
[receiver clattering]
Thank you for agreeing to go through this ordeal.
I appreciate how stressful this must be for you.
- It's okay.
- So I have pictures of six men here on screen.
They all look very similar in build and in look,
I just need you to tell me if the man you saw that day
is pictured here on screen, okay?
So please take as much time
as you need, okay.
Just walk through it.
Okay, just take your time.
Have you reached a decision?
- That one.
[car door clicking]
[car door thudding]
John Henry Sayers, I'm arresting you for the armed robbery
at Sunderland Post Office Depot.
You have a right to remain silent, but anything you do say
may be taken down and used in evidence.
[button clicking]
- Okay, ah, so, ah,
for the benefit of the tape, it is 11 a.m.,
the 14th of September.
Present are myself, Detective Scott
and also Detective Iceton.
Could you confirm your name for me please?
- John Henry Sayers.
- Your date of birth? - 25th of September.
- Now before we start,
would you like a glass of water, Mr. Sayers?
[belt slapping] - Uh!
- No, thank you.
- So shall we start with your whereabouts
on the 12th of August, Mr. Sayers?
- No comment.
[phone ringing]
- Hello.
Who is it?
All right, cuz, I'll see you in five minutes.
- Who was it?
Is everything all right?
- Our John's been lifted.
- So what you doing?
- Gotta go, pet.
- When will I see you again?
- When everything quietens down.
- Are they looking for you like?
- Aren't they always?
Love you.
- [Donna] Love you too.
- [Narrator] With John locked up,
it was only a matter of time
before they came for Stephen
and so he weren't hanging about like a sitting duck.
[dog barking]
[car door thudding]
[crow cawing]
[dog barking]
[hands patting]
- Our Stephen, it's been a while.
- I need a roof over my head for a couple of nights,
can you help us out?
- Aye, you can stay here, you know,
you're more than welcome, stay as long as you want.
- Can you still get a hold of them passports?
- What, for like a holiday? - Aye, something like that.
I could do with a bit of sun on my back.
- Leave it with us, leave it with us.
[dog barking]
In fact, get yourself in there now, get washed, get ready,
got some entertainment tonight.
- Entertainment?
- Aye, entertainment.
[dog barking]
[crow cawing]
[dogs barking]
- All right, mate.
- [Traveler] Ticket please, mate.
- No, no, mate, he's with me.
- You must be Stephen?
- Yeah, that's me.
- [Traveler] I've been asked to give you this.
- Ladies and gents, welcome to the ring
your Bare Knuckle Champion, Big Phil!
[crowd applauding]
And his challenger today, Mad Mickey!
[crowd applauding]
Riley, you're in the red,
Shaw, you're in the blue.
- [Traveler] Come on, Phil!
[crowd shouting encouragement]
[crowd shouting encouragement continues]
- No, in your face, in your face, stop, stop, stop!
Go on.
Fight, fight!
[crowd shouting encouragement]
[crowd shouting encouragement continues]
- Go on, go on, Mickey! - Ooh!
[crowd shouting encouragement continues]
[melodic orchestral opera music]
- [Narrator] Stephen's cousin, Frankie
had arrived a day earlier,
sun, sand, Sangria and spliffs.
[vocalist singing opera in Italian]
Tenerife was Stephen's kind of place
and he was gonna make the best of it.
Like I say, he weren't gonna be no sitting duck.
[vocalists singing opera in Italian]
[cheerful opera music continues]
- Here you are, clear this.
[balls thudding] [background people chattering]
Good shot, son.
[background people chattering]
Where's the black going?
[background people chattering]
[balls thudding]
- Good luck, son.
[background people chattering]
- I'm on next.
- Well, put your name on the board, Walter,
same as everybody else.
Good lad.
- Do what, mate? - Are you Mutton Jeff, son?
He said put your name on the board.
- No. [laughing]
- Nitto, cuz, nitto.
- I'll give you a lesson in this game,
you fucking Geordie maggot.
- Is that right?
Tell you what,
let's spin for it.
[background people chattering]
Heads or tails?
- Heads.
[blow thudding] - Uh!
- It's tails.
Bother inside, lads.
- It was fucking murder man in there.
- [Narrator] It was a lesson learned for Cockney Ed.
He took Stephen's politeness for a weakness
and he learned the hard way,
but instead of looking for revenge,
he came back with a white flag and a proposition.
- Any news on Stephen Sayers?
- Disappeared into thin air, boss.
- Great, so we can add magician to his fucking resume now.
- Word on the street is he's headed to the Costas.
- Where? - Spain.
- Who does he think he is, Ronnie Biggs?
- Any progress with John?
- No, he's sitting tight, he knows we've got nothing on him.
- Now what?
- We need more evidence,
or we're gonna have to let him go. [sighing]
[water lapping]
- [Tony] What do you fucking want?
- Mate, sit down, tranquilo, I don't want no problems.
[background people chattering]
I've come here to apologise,
I was bang out of order yesterday.
- Do you want some breakfast?
- I'll have a white coffee, no sugar.
- [Stephen] Sharon!
Can I have two coffees please, pet?
- How long you boys here for?
- We're not planning on going anywhere,
if that's what you're thinking.
- Why like, London, what's on your mind?
- Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot,
but I wanna make it right.
- How were you planning doing that?
- There's someone I'd like you to meet,
7 p.m. Irish bar, Main Street.
- See you there.
You see that fucking bloke down that bar last night?
He'd been in it, the Winchester,
he was fucking singing all the fucking best tunes, Sinatra.
- It's a canny voice actually. - He's called the Godfather
of Swing, you know. - What a chucker,
what a chucker, what a day.
- Honestly. - Good turn, mate.
- He's a fucking good turn, aye, he was fucking sweating.
Oh, hold on, look lively, lads, they're here.
Take that fucking phone, cuz.
- Evening, Mr. Sayers, my name's Pat, this is Tony.
- Wagwan.
- You might not know who we are, but we know who you are.
Oh, I know who you lads are, I'm just a busy man.
What are you lads wanting?
- Look, we want to introduce you into the future mate.
- This is the new ecstasy.
We've got kids going crazy for this stuff
and we've built a very lucrative business supplying Essex
with these and we're looking to expand nationally.
- Are you lads sure?
- Yeah, mate, we're very sure,
we are about to enter a new summer of love.
- To put it simply, Stephen,
whoever controls the supply of pills,
controls the success of the clubs.
And with that in mind,
I'd like to discuss with you a commercial arrangement.
- So if this is the future, what's the deal?
- It's your lucky day. [laughing]
- We have a very good supply network,
but I can supply all your doors in Newcastle,
using our existing established network.
- Just tell us what you want and when you want them.
- Mates' rates?
- Wye aye, man. [laughing]
- These are selling for 20 quid each,
I can supply you at five pound each in bags of 5,000.
Would you like to control the doors of Newcastle, Stephen?
- Oh, I already do.
- And do you wanna keep it that way?
- Let me make a few phone calls and I'll get back to you.
Maybe I could treat you do a bit of Geordie hospitality?
- Sounds good to me.
- Excuse me, lads, I've gotta get that.
Hello?
Go on.
Haway then.
- Brilliant.
When?
[Stephen laughing]
- Give us a couple of days,
I've got a couple of loose ends to tie up.
- [Michael] Okay, I'll let her know.
- Tell my mam I love her and I'll see John soon.
See you later, Michael.
- [Pat] So we got a deal?
- We've got a deal.
[all laughing]
- I think that deserves a toast, don't you, Tone?
- New beginnings! - New beginnings!
[glasses clinking]
- [Tony] Are you sweet, cuz?
- Yeah. - Yeah?
- Our John's coming home.
- No, fucking cushty! [Stephen laughing]
That deserves a toast.
- [Stephen] Cuz.
- [Frankie] Cuz.
- Where's our Tony?
- Passed out with a hooker.
- [Stephen] [laughing] Not that Jeanine again, is it?
- I don't think he realises that the point of a brass
is you can have a different one each night.
- Aye, to be fair, like, I wouldn't touch her with yours.
- Aye. [laughing]
Long way from York Street now.
- Aye, who would've thought it?
- Do you ever think about it?
- [Stephen] About what?
- Well, getting out.
- The only person I'm thinking about pulling out
is our Tony, imagine a bairn between them two.
- You'd just take one look at the poor, little fucker
and you'd know, wouldn't you? - Know what?
- Should've been a blowjob.
[both laughing]
- Listen, joking aside, we're just getting started, Frankie,
this deal, this really is the start of the big time.
- I know, I know.
I was just thinking,
do you think we're, do you think we're getting, what if-
- What?
- [Frankie] What if we're getting out our depth?
- We rule, Frankie.
We say how high, how low, how deep.
We're a new breed of criminal.
This place, it's never seen the like of the Sayers.
- Donna, aren't yous two trying for bairns?
- Aunt Vera's already got the names picked.
You won't believe who she think is gonna be the godfather.
- Haway man, cuz, I'm trying to be serious.
- So am I,
deadly serious.
Donna, John,
Michael, my mam and dad,
Vera, Uncle Albert,
they're the ones what we're doing this for,
otherwise what have we got?
That,
without family, it's just a building.
Family's everything.
- You know,
I look at them losers in the gutter,
scratching around in the dirt all week,
for what, pennies?
- But then there's us.
What would you rather have?
Family.
[car door clicking]
[car door thudding]
[traffic rumbling quietly]
- Hello, son.
- Hello, Dad, how are you?
- I'm good, how are you?
You're looking great? Yeah, your ma's here.
- Mum. - Son.
Oh, look at you.
I didn't want all this fuss, your dad insisted.
Any excuse for a drink.
- Some things never change, eh?
[background people chattering]
Is our Stephen back?
- Yes, this morning, he should be here in a minute.
- You ladies fancy a drink?
[car door clicking]
[car door thudding]
[traffic rumbling quietly]
- [Michael] Ah, the prodigal son returns.
[hand patting] - Michael, how are you, man?
- [Michael] I'm cush, I'm cush.
Do you want a drink?
- I'll have a double vodka.
- No bother. - Where's my mam?
- She's over there, go and see her, I'll get the drinks in.
- Oh. - Hello, Mam.
- Oh, look at you, you're looking well.
My, the sun's done you the world are good. Thanks Mom.
Me dad here?
- Oh, propping the bar up as usual.
- Oh aye, I can see him.
- Is Donna not with you.
- Ah, she's not feeling too well.
- We've missed you.
- I know.
- Well listen,
I'm gonna say the same to you as I've said to our John.
Oh listen man, it's good to stop.
- What Mam?
- You know what?
How can I take the stress?
You know, get in the back door
belted in every week and police rifling
through me underwear drawer.
There's only one way that this is gonna go, Stephen.
No happy ending to the life
that you three have chosen, you know.
Haway.
Please think about it, man. For me.
- Hola, Senor Sayers.
- John, how are you?
- I'm alright. How are you?
- Good. How was it in there?
- Nout I couldn't handle.
How was Spain?
- Hotter than our Philip's caravan.
[both laughing]
- Here you go, lads.
- Cheers. Just turn that television down please.
Ladies and gentleman, please, can I have your attention?
Can you all raise your glass to me brothers,
they've just come home today.
John, Stephen.
[glasses clinking] - Cheers mate.
- John and Stephen. - Cheers.
- Cheers! - Cheers.
- Give me two minutes, Stephen, I need to wee.
The taxi here?
- My lift's here. I've gotta go and see John and Michael.
- I thought we're going out together.
- All right, Donna, you know how it is.
- Oh I know exactly how it is.
You've been sunning it up in Spain
whilst I've been stuck here in the pissing rain
making ends meet.
And the first day home you were away outta the lads.
- I'll not be late.
- Oh you'll not be getting in.
- Donna! Donna!
[background people chattering]
- Three?
- Cheers, Vic.
- So what was Tenerife like then?
- I saw the future.
- Oh aye. What's that then?
- These.
- What are these?
- A new breed of ecstasy.
Newcastle's not gonna know what's hit it.
Michael.
- What do they do exactly?
- [Narrator] The new summer of love was upon them
and they were gonna make more money
than they had ever had before.
[traffic rumbling softly]
[car boot clicks]
- Alright boys! [Stephen chuckles]
There you are, mate. - Good seeing you.
- I've got a lovely parcel for you-
- Are these the same as the last batch, Ed?
- Mate, different buzz.
Fucking absolutely bang on. Called Mitzy's Revenge.
- Mitzy's Revenge? - Yeah.
Like the old Mitsubishi car.
- [Narrator] They were finally at the top of that tree
and things were going well for them.
But the police?
They were never going to let that last.
Not in a thousand years.
- Tommy, it's Vic. We've got a problem.
The police have told me they don't want
any of the sales on our premises.
Our licences are up for renewal in a couple of weeks.
If we don't comply, we got a bigger problem.
Gimme a call.
[music thudding distantly]
I don't want any dealers in here from now on.
That includes the Sayers. Do you hear me?
- Are you sure?
- I said do you hear me?
You fucking deaf?
- These people are fucking dangerous Vic.
- They're not the mafia.
They're a family of Westenders who think they run Newcastle.
Well they fucking don't.
They're a couple of jumped up,
jack the lads out of their depth.
They think they're big fish in a little pond.
Well it's my pond.
They wanna play?
Come in. The water's lovely.
- Don't say I didn't warn you.
- What's happened to yous two like?
- What's happened?
We got knocked back from fucking everywhere last night,
didn't we?
- Aye, we got to the club.
Vic bashed wor and he took all our fucking gear, the cunt.
- Aye, and he's done the same
with the rest of the fucking lads and all.
- It's nee good for businesses this like.
- Nah, and now all our regulars
are going fucking elsewhere mate.
- Did he say why we're getting knocked back?
- Aye, 'cause of Vic.
- I'll tell you what we're gonna do the cunt
for this, me like.
- You just leave it to me, Tommy.
[coffee machine whirring]
We've got a problem.
- Go on. - Vic.
- Vic?
- Aye, he's barred us and all of our lads
from all of his bars in town.
- On whose instruction?
- The bizzies is what I'm hearing.
He's told all the managers that their licences are at risk
unless they start playing the game.
And he's got Vic to crack down on us.
- Fucking sly bastards.
So what do we do?
- We send a little message of our own.
Are you still pals with that lad from Teeside?
- Duffer? - Aye, that's him.
- Get him on the phone.
Let's see what Vic and his boys are made of, eh?
- Did you book the taxis, eh?
- Aye. Aye she's got two coming.
- Where we off?
- Top end of town.
- Aye, going to Vics gather?
- Cushty, I'm on a promise tonight lads.
- Aye, with your furry glove. [everyone laughs]
- Two taxis outside.
- All right, lads. - That's us.
[traffic rumbling] [dance music thudding]
[Michael snorting]
- [Punter] Shouldn't be doing that in here, lads.
- Aye, who the fuck are you?
- Doesn't matter who I am.
[fist thuds]
[Michael laughs]
[upbeat dance music]
So, Duffer, what brings you to Newcastle?
- Thought there was a party going on man.
- Well there is now.
- Yeah. Do you fancy coming down to Vic's tonight with wor.
- Yeah, will I. Ready when you are, pal.
- Not tonight lads.
- What do you mean not tonight?
- I've been tell not to let you and your family in.
- By who?
- Aye, by who?
- Doesn't matter who, yous aren't getting in, right.
[men scuffling]
- Get fucking Vic here now.
[phone ringing]
- Yeah.
What problem?
[upbeat dance music thudding]
- I told you this isn't gonna work.
One of us is gonna end up getting topped.
- What happened?
- They showed up with a lad called the Duffer.
You heard of him?
- Boro? - Aye that's him.
Big lad with a big punch to match and all.
- Where are they now?
- I don't know, but that Duffer's looking for you.
- Be at Portofino's if you need me.
- [Narrator] It was only a matter of time
before someone else decided to take matters
into their own hands with Vic.
And one person was about to make their move.
- Franco.
[Franco speaking Italian]
- Welcome back, sir. - Grazie, grazie.
[gentle orchestral music]
- Vic, how are you doing?
Good to see you mate. - Good to see you.
- Things okay in London?
Tutto è bene
This is Sergio a friend of mine, Sergio, Vic.
[both speaking Italian]
You're gonna have something to eat, eh.
Franco will look after you.
- Thank you.
- Enjoy, Enjoy.
- Good to see you. - And you. And you.
- Vic.
- You having a drink.
- Solito. - Of course.
- Beer for me please.
- And can I get you anything to eat?
- Steaks. The usual?
- Perfezione. - Of course, Sir.
- Perfezione.
- You're looking kinda stressed, mate.
- Do I?
- I heard there was a bother out at the club
with the Sayers and that Duffer.
Are the lads all right?
- All quiet on the western front.
- Good.
- Vic! Vic! [guns clicking]
Ah, there you are. Stand up cunt!
[chair clatters]
Did I fucking stutter? I said stand up cunt.
- Nice and easy. Nice and easy.
- Move now.
Get in the fucking back.
- Nice and calm, Ron. Nice and calm mate.
[fist thuds]
- Get over there.
[people grunting]
[men scuffling]
Move!
[Tommy grunting]
[classical music continues]
[fists thudding] [Ron grunting]
[gun clicking]
[gun clatters]
Fuck!
[both grunting]
Fuck!
[sirens wailing] - Ron!
- Stay with me!
I need help here, I need help.
- Fucking get down!
[men grunting]
Get on your front.
Back up now, we need back up. Back up.
- So was this man known to you?
Any particular reason that he'd treat you in this manner?
- Why don't you fucking ask him.
- Oh we will down at the station.
- Franco.
Grazie, grazie.
[Franco and Vic speak Italian]
Are you done with me?
- [Police Officer] For the time being we are.
- Good. 'Cause I'm fucking off.
- [Narrator] Even his doormen weren't safe.
[gunshot bangs]
This was a war
and Vic could only see one way to get out of it.
[cup clinking] - Sugar?
- No.
- So what's this all about then, Vic?
- I don't wanna be looking over my shoulder, Stephen.
I don't like it.
It makes me unhappy.
Do you understand what I'm saying to you?
I want peace and tranquillity.
- On the doors of Newcastle, like?
- On mine. Yes.
- You see your problems not just from me, Vic,
you've upset a lot of people, taken liberties.
Stopped people making money.
- They're your people, they'll listen to you.
- How about a fight? Winner takes all.
- What, you and me?
[Stephen chuckles]
- Any one of your men.
- And you? Fancy yourself?
- Any one of your men and the Duffer.
You win. We stay away.
The Duffer wins, it's business as usual.
I'll give you some take to think about that.
- So we got three shootings in as many weeks
on both sides of the water.
It's only a matter of time
before we have a murder on our hands.
- So what do they all have in common?
- They're all doormen.
They're all connected to Vic.
- Do you think the Sayers are behind this?
- Vic stops their dealers getting into the pubs and clubs.
Their doormen start getting kneecapped.
I don't think you need your guy Spender to solve this one.
- So now what?
- We gotta change tack. - Meaning?
- We gotta hit them where it hurts 'em the most.
- Vic, what can I do for you?
- I've got a problem.
I was hoping you could help me with it.
- Alright, what's your problem?
- Duffer.
- Stephen.
- Duffer wants a straightener.
Winner takes all.
I can get the venue and I can promote it.
- I don't want any more of my boys getting hurt.
- What?
I'm not gonna fight him.
That's why I'm here talking to your dad,
so he can sort it for me.
- Too much for you like.
- I can make a phone call.
[phone tapping]
Hello, it's John.
I've just had that Vic round here.
No son, he's gone.
But he asked me to pass on a message.
Doesn't wanna fight you, son.
No problem. Cheers then.
That's done.
- [Narrator] The fight between Vic and the Duffer
never took place.
They led parallel lives and well,
they both paid a heavy price in the end.
Duffer was stabbed to death in the street.
And as for Vic,
he was shot dead, bleeding out into the gutter.
After all, you can't fight a bullet.
- So Tommy, let me tell you where we're at.
We have found a substantial amount of class A drugs,
two weapons with enough ammo to shoot a Western
and 50 grand in cash.
All in your humble abode.
So I am either sitting here with Newcastle's
answer to Tony Montana
or you are mixed up with some pretty serious people.
- Nee comment.
- You're looking at a big stretch for the drugs alone,
Tommy, you sure you wanna go no comment?
- I said no comment.
- How are you feeling Tommy?
Drug's starting to wear off yet?
No?
You know what it's gonna be like in a few hours.
It's all right on the outside.
You could just get another hit.
But you can't do that in here.
Unless...
- So shall shall we start again?
Why don't you tell us everything you know
about the Stephen Sayers?
- Hello John.
Have you seen the news?
When you're back?
Right? I'll see you first thing.
- How are you?
- I've had better days.
- That bad, eh?
- Have you not seen the news?
We're being wiped out man.
Cash, stock, staff, the fucking lot.
- It was always gonna happen.
- I mean it. We've got fuck all.
- Well it's a good job I've got something lined up then.
- [Narrator] Big earners don't just happen.
Once you are happy with the graft,
you need to pick your team very, very carefully.
Then you need to take a look at the job yourself.
- Right? So what's the SP, on or off?
Are we going to work or what?
- Didn't look good at first.
- Police escort. - Every week.
- But the graft's ours.
- Aye, go on.
- [Stephen] Once the cash arrives, the security come out
and they wedge the door open.
- Now it's not a security door.
So we can smash through it, no bother.
- And there's no security inside.
- And what's the prize, what we looking at?
- Seven figures.
- If we pull this off we can buy Newcastle United.
[everyone chuckles]
- Did you got that safe house sorted?
- Sweet cuz, aye. My pals taking his bird to Benidorm,
so I've got the twirls, won't get any aggravation.
Sweet.
- Let's go to work then boys.
- Let's do it. [hands slapping]
- Get on the floor. Now!
[people grunting]
Don't fucking move.
Don't fucking move!
- Yes, yes, go on.
- Stay right there.
Don't fucking move.
- Time! Time! Time!
[traffic rumbling softly]
- We did it.
- Let's get inside.
- Oh fucking hell. The bulb's gone.
- Use a torch man.
- Michael, you've got yours.
- Aye, Aye.
- How much do you reckon there is.
- Six figures.
Easy.
- [Narrator] The estimated haul that night
was just over 3 million pounds.
They had done it.
They pulled off the big one,
but alas they would never get to spend a penny of it.
- Oh.
Oh, the little bastards.
Oh.
[phone tapping]
Hello, police?
Yes, yes.
I'd like to report a burglary at my dad's house.
Yes, they're still there.
I can see their torches, the little bastards.
How do I know it's burglars?
Because me dad's on holiday and Benidorm, man.
[cars rumbling]
- [Narrator] With informants coming out of the woodwork,
cashing in their information on them in exchange for drugs
and witnesses coming forward.
Well, they were on a one way ticket to the old Bailey.
They never stood a chance.
- Would the defendants and the foreman of the jury,
please stand.
Gentlemen, we have allowed you the courtesy of allowing
your family into what is essentially a closed court hearing.
How do you find the defendant, John Henry Sayers,
guilty or not guilty?
- Guilty.
- How do you find the defendant, Michael Sayers,
guilty or not guilty?
- Guilty.
- How do you find the defendant, Stephen Sayers,
guilty or not guilty?
- Guilty.
- Take them down.
[gavel bangs]
The trial against the notorious Sayers brothers for armed
robbery has concluded today with heavy sentences
handed down by Judge Mike Hodges, John Henry Sayers was
given fifteen years while Stephen and Michael Sayers were
each sentenced to ten years.
Our crime corespondent
Clare Barber was present for the press conference
after the verdict where Detective Scott had this to say...
- Claire.
- Detective Scott,
you must be happy with the sentences handed down today.
- The Sayers and people like them
believe that they are beyond the law,
which most of us look to for protection.
I guess they just found out how wrong they were.
For the last two years,
we have cracked down on so-called hard men like the Sayers.
We have made strenuous efforts to reduce
not only the volume of crime in the force area,
but also to target organised crime and the insidious nature
of these offences, which affect not only the individual,
but also the business community, in the form of drugs,
violence, extortion, and protection rackets.
And I can assure you that we will continue to target those
trading on fear and violence in order
to enhance their criminal reputations.
[door buzzing]
- How are you?
- Yeah, not too bad.
You the, I'm guessing you're the new starter today.
- Yeah. Yeah.
Literally just came through all the sign ins and security,
it's a bit manic.
- Quite a bit to it, isn't it? - Yeah. [laughs]
It's all good.
- So what I thought we'll do today is I'll show you around,
that's my job today and then as we go
if you got any questions I'm happy to answer.
- What's in there?
- That's the workshop.
- Can we see it?
- Not tonight, no. - Why?
- Mr Kray's in session there tonight
and you just don't disturb him on Tuesdays.
[glasses clinking]
- Cheers lads.
- To you and yours from me and mine.
- [Charlie] I just want to thank you boys
for looking out for me.
- It's been our pleasure Charlie.
- I should be moving on soon.
And I want to ask you a favour.
- Name it.
- Don't make the same mistake that me and my brothers done.
You can't beat the system.
If you try.
Well, they'll just lock you up.
And if you try,
they'll throw away the key.
[religious music continues]
- [Narrator] Best advice anybody gave him that,
must have been because he actually listened.
That's the thing about being a Kray,
people sit up and listen.
They hang on your every word.
And who says crime films can't have a happy ending?
Not always, but sometimes.
Just sometimes.