Sam Clark is just ten years old when his drug addicted father dies from an overdose and his alcoholic mother abandons him. Sent to an institution for homeless children, he is threatened and sexually abused. In desperation, he escapes and is forced to sleep rough and live by his wits. His wretched luck takes a turn for the better when he is befriended by an old pickpocket, Charlie Parker. Charlie takes him under his wing, providing him with a home and teaching him the tricks of his "trade". Sam grows up, meets a girl called Katie and they have a child. His life is good apart from one thing - a thief all his life, he is desperate to give his son the normal upbringing he never had. But, because he is out of the "system", he cannot get a legitimate job. At this vulnerable stage in his life, he meets Dave Collins, an opportunistic criminal who suggests they join forces in a people-smuggling venture bringing illegal immigrants into the UK from France. Seeing this as a way out of his predicament, he agrees to give it a go. What follows is a saga of betrayal, ambition, greed and, ultimately, revenge from beyond the grave.