Tony Bell was an assistant of Ray Mullan. Ray revealed to his girlfriend Louise Appleton that he murdered Tony on Christmas Day 2002.
In September 2001, Tony assisted Ray in the kidnapping of Cain Dingle and Andy Sugden, continuing to act as Ray's henchman. In May 2002, Tony recruited Scott Windsor to help him with his and Ray's car-ringing scam. The scam was later uncovered by Len Reynolds, but was convinced not to go to the police with the scam being shut down. Tony refused to end the scam, and he and Scott continued without Len's knowledge.
Tony began threatening Scott, who wanted to back out of the scam. They told Ray about the scam, and a furious Ray blamed Tony. Tony went missing after Scott asked Ray for help getting Tony off his back, and Ray gave Scott a car, telling him not to look in the boot. Scott did not and crushed the car, therefore leaving Tony's death unconfirmed until Ray confessed to his girlfriend, Louise Appleton, shortly before his death in December 2002.