Frank Haskins was a taxi controller at Weatherfield Cabs, where one of his colleagues was driver Don Brennan. Frank was a good friend to Don, and when Don crashed his car in June 1992, resulting in the amputation of his lower right leg, Frank was a great support, arranging a whip-round among his colleagues and delivering the money to Don's wife Ivy.
In July, Don left hospital but refused to return home to Ivy, so Frank settled him into Wentworths Guest House. Frank thought Don's decision was inexplicable and wasted no time in putting frantic Ivy's mind at rest by telling her where Don was living.
Frank continued to socialise with Don, and in October, they visited a casino where they chatted up women, but Don did not enjoy the experience.