gavin continues to make shirley's life hell by putting her telephone number on a call-girl card and posting them around walford. he later breaks into her flat and tips rubbish all over her floor. ash ferreira (raji james) decides to step in and play him at his own game. he borrows his brother's speakers and plays dance music extremely loudly, which maddens gavin and he reports them to the landlord. shirley and ash are ready for this, and upon the landlord's visit, they play classical music and pretended they are involved in a book club. this satisfies the landlord and leaves gavin looking like a fool. he threatens both shirley and ash, and makes regular racist comments whenever any of the ferreiras are around. a few days later, ash overhears an altercation between gavin and the road sweeper gus smith (mohammed george). gavin is unhappy about the uncleanliness of the square, particularly as it could attract rats. sensing gavin's fear of rats, ash and family convince gus to trap a rat in the square, and with the help of tariq larousi (nabil elouahabi), he breaks into gavin's flat and sets the rat free. the plan works and gavin is petrified. he promises to call a truce with shirley if they remove the rat.