Bizarrely I was reminded of this incident when a friend posted a similar Photoshopped photo.

It started as a straightforward stake out of a convicted criminal whose solicitor had presented some mitigation during his court appearance, that he suffered from the hair loss condition alopecia, and if he was sent down his fellow inmates would take the proverbial.

So myself and a reporter from the news agency where I was working were sent to his address to stake it out. He had been placed on a curfew and he should have been back by 7pm – however he sauntered back shortly after the deadline.

We got out of the car to greet him and I was able to fire off a couple of frames to get this headshot.

However I was not expecting his mother to take offence and launch a barrage of punches at my head – much to the amusement of my colleague.

At the end of the day I was generally uninjured following the incident and the next day, when we spoke with the nationals, we got a good result.

I do like the way the Daily Star used the photo (with the help of Photoshop) and it is a classic headline.

From The Daily Star on Saturday, November 9, 1996.