Better known amongst the Shoreditch/East London criminal underworld elite, Tony (The Toe) Knee was a wanted notorious gang leader who, in 1968, masterminded a crime involving a London/Glasgow postal plane. This incident later became known as THE GREAT PLANE ROBBERY, leading to many films and books based upon this lawless individual and his gang of cronies. Rupert (Prettyboy) Muggs, Ade (The Evader) Spinks and Woody Oaks planned to steal in excess of £1 million worth of Premium Bonds.

The scheme began well, the crooks snuck onto the plane by wrapping themselves up as giant Christmas presents in boxes bound for Lapland. The gang burst out of their parcels somewhere above Glossop (‘oop’ north) but as one crook threatened the poor pilot, he pressed his ejector seat and foiled the entire plan. Unbeknownst to the robbers, he had also pulled the load release lever which caused the Premium Bonds to be scattered across Brighouse Park at a Brass Band concert.