What he had was information on a notorious armed robbery crew, known as the gym gang, and he was prepared to talk, if the deal was right.
He was The Driver, a trusted insider who turned informer on a gang that police still consider one of Melbourne's slickest.
His information would form the basis of a police operation, codenamed Tidelands, which became a cat-and-mouse game straight out of a spy novel.
Crime reporter John Silvester brings you the final instalment of a special two-part episode of Naked City.

Send in your questions for a special mailbag episode
01:42

In a world of two-bit gangsters, Charlie Wootton was the last old-school crook
37:29

My brother, the Great Bookie robber
22:01