Midlane explained that Jas makes Al feel good and a number of personal grievances make him vulnerable. Al was "broke" and had no one to support him and "he started this peculiar behaviour [...] Jas became a comfort to him, a hope of better things. In looking after her, he could heal himself. Then circumstance made things really, really bad." Writers played Al becoming disliked at work, with Zara Carmichael (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh) and Kevin Tyler (Simon Rivers) being the first colleagues to turn against him. Midlane said that "Al doesn't feel loved at work, so if he feels humiliated and disappointed by the way they react to him, he isn't surprised by it." Jas' stalker is later revealed to be a patient named Gus Harper (Neil Haigh). The story culminates in Gus taking Al hostage in his cellar and tying him up. He then uses Al's mobile phone to lure Jas to his home and she discovers the truth.
