‘Leave him alone!’ screamed the lout. ‘Leave him alone! How really dare you tell me to leave him alone!’

A filthy froth flew from his mouth and spattered Mac.

‘We’ll leave you alone,’ screamed the lout.

And with that he dragged Mac to one corner of the yard where a line of portable toilets stood waiting. The lout opened the door of the closest one, threw Mac inside and bolted the door behind him. As if this wasn’t quite enough, the lout completed the job by laying a heavy paving slab against the plastic door.

‘This is what it feels like to be left alone,’ he screamed through the door.