Charlie Spark: Villain Extraordinaire

Around thirty years ago, the leading criminal lawyer in London had the most important cases in the country which were being heard in court no.1 at the Old Bailey. But, at the end of every day, you could hear the sound of laughter coming from his office as he and his colleagues talked about the day's events. Certain professional criminals like to play games with the police, the courts, their targets and other criminals. They try to gain control over everything and everyone, including judges - and especially the loot. They can be accomplished actors, charming, persuasive or experts in flattery. And the games that they play can often be absurd. The class system gives them the opportunity to become any character they want to be so that sometimes it can be difficult to tell who the real criminals are. This is an "excursion in gentlemanly outfoxing, chicanery, double-dealing and one-upmanship in London and the English countryside.