The Bill :: Flora And Fauna :: Andy Franklin

Series 11 Episode 26. 9th March 1995. Screencaps


This episode guide only covers the parts of the episode that Alex appeared in. For the full episode guide, please visit Sierra-Oscar


Investigating an abandoned Porsche, PC Gary McCann and PC Mike Jarvis visit nearby garages to see if anyone had been trying to get rid of Porsche parts, including ‘Marley’s’ where the manager, who is known to the police, assures them that everything is above board.

PC Tony Stamp and PC Reg Hollis stop Andy Franklin in the nursery carpark, Tony questioning him about his stereo, something that looks out of place on his rather old car. They follow him to Sun Hill and note the registration of his car stereo and look under the bonnet, finding more than a few discrepancies with how it should be. Informed that it’s an offence to alter a vehicles VIN, Franklin explains that it was a straight engine swap and that the details swap over – as told to him by a mechanic after the previous one blew up.

Talking to Mike about Franklin’s car and what he’d been told by Peter Salt, the mechanic, Reg wonders if the engine is the one from the missing Porsche. Visiting Salt, they hear a contradicting story to Franklin’s and is cagy about the details. Looking at another engine they see that he has filed the VIN number off and arrest him, taking him down to the station.

Interviewing Salt, Reg and Tony discover how the scam works. Insurance company declare the car a write off, the men buy the car at auction, put everything back in that they stole and then sell the car through trade to unsuspecting customers. Digging a little further Reg discovers that Mike’s suggestion was correct, it is Marley who stole the parts of the Porsche and he is later arrested.