Ryan Burns (Leo Bill) appears in episode three of the first series as a rapist and murderer committed out of religious extremism. After killing Delfine Parks, he goes on to rape Nina Akaboa aboard Leonard Roseberry-Sykes' luxury yacht, Sunborn where he works as a waiter.
While attempting to rape and murder a third prostitute, the CID team arrive and arrest Burns. Now knowing that Trixie Walsh reported Nina's rape as if it were against herself and that Nina is too scared to testify, Burns would fail to be convicted. Due to this, DS Ray Carling plants cocaine-filled garden gnomes in Burns' car, leading to him being imprisoned for drugs offences.