An unnamed drug dealer confronted Rob Hawthorn over money he and the late Dermot Ashton stole from his gang in November 1996. Earlier in the month, Rob and Dermot staged a robbery on the dealer's lock-up, but ended up crashing into the River Dee whilst fleeing, resulting in Dermot's death. The dealer kidnapped Rob when told he didn't have the money, hanging him over the edge of a roof with threats of what would happen next time.