The Cook Report

This programme in 1991 was prompted by the assassination of Gary Thompson, the millionaire hot dog and burger overlord of the Midlands. He was murdered as he returned home with tens of thousands of pounds in takings in the boot of his Rolls Royce. He controlled all the best sites and those traders who did not meet his terms were subjected to intimidation, violence and fire-bombings. Thompson’s death sparked all-out war as rivals fought to take over his empire. It was a prize worth seizing. Over a weekend, big music and sporting events could produce an income of £250,000.