 Sutton reprised the role in 2012 and John Paul returned on 18 December 2012, after leaving his role as Ryan Lamb in "Emmerdale".Producers placed the character at the focus of a male rape story in 2014 when he is assaulted by a student, Finn O'Connor (Keith Rice).In early 2017, Sutton announced his intentions to leave the serial and the character departed on 9 March 2017.