Walking on the sands of the Lincolnshire coast, presenter Emilia Fox, begins her narration of "Mablethorpe" - Episode 5 of crime series Murdertown. It is not an enchanting tale by any stretch, but a gruesome one.
And it all began in Nottingham after the death of crime boss Colin Gunn's nephew Jamie Gunn. The demise of the teenager was the catalyst for events that led to the downfall of Gunn - who was later to be convicted of a role in a plot to kill John and Joan Stirland, a couple originally from Carlton, after they were gunned down with Italian Baretta pistols in August 2004 at their home in Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire.
Why?
Joan Stirland's son, Michael O'Brien, got into a row one year earlier outside the Sporting Chance pub in Bulwell. Jamie Gunn was in a lock-in inside the pub that night with his best friend Marvyn Bradshaw, who was due to drive them all home, when the argument kicked off outside, and O'Brien was injured with a cut to his eyebrow with an ashtray.
READ MORE: Colin Gunn interview tapes: His denials, how he was on holiday, and 'grieving'
O'Brien stormed off and returned with his accomplice and fired the gun into Marvyn's car as he drove his mates away. O'Brien was arrested and shortly afterwards, shots were fired into the Carlton home of his mum and step-dad, and they fled to the coast.
Jamie's family said at the time the teenager never recovered from the trauma and pressed the self-destruct button. The 19-year-old saw O'Brien in court before he was jailed for Marvyn's murder in July 2004.
Weeks later, on August 2, 2004, Jamie contracted pneumonia and died. Gunn decided on the ultimate revenge to get to O'Brien.
With his associates, he tracked down the Sitrlands to their bungalow in Trusthorpe. On August 8, the innocent couple were ruthlessly executed by two gunmen, wearing blue boiler suits. They have never been traced.
Mobile phone evidence put Gunn and his associates, Michael McNee and John Russell, near the Stirlands' home in the days before the murders. All three were convicted of conspiring to murder them.
Police had said support for the Bestwood cartel began to diminish after these killings.
Episode 5: Mablethorpe - Sunday, 9th October 9pm
MURDERTOWN SERIES FOUR IS AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON CRIME+INVESTIGATION PLAY, WITH EPISODES AVAILABLE EVERY MONDAY. Sign up now at crimeandinvestigationplay.co.uk
READ NEXT:
- The Stirland killings: How a community will never forget the double tragedy
- Former undercover cop opens up on attempt to infiltrate Colin Gunn's empire
- David Gunn on the Stirland killings which jailed brother Colin for 35 years
- When Nottinghamshire's most notorious criminals are due for release from prison
- The killing which led to downfall of an empire...
