Joel's a father of one and a husband of eight years. He's a really nice guy - the type you'd happily go for a drink with. Well that was until last night when he smashed a bottle over a total stranger's head. He claimed he was getting on his nerves.
His marriage has been strained of late as he had been made redundant eight months ago and has just failed to pay his mortgage repayment for the fourth time in a row. Buying his wife, Lucy, a bunch of flowers for her birthday today only sparked a row.
Joel's out of character violence is rapidly spiralling out of control: first an unprovoked attack on a random drinker in the pub, next up he's buying a gun and threatening a child with it and swiftly moving up the ranks of criminality by holding up a cafe for its takings.
DC Stevie Moss is investigating, sure that something has acted as a catalyst for Joel's new found gangster life-style choice (that really doesn't suit him).
Don't miss 'Absolute Power' on ITV1, 9pm on Thursday 6th August '09.