Robert becomes overprotective of Victoria and disapproves of her fiancé Adam Barton (Adam Thomas). Chrissie breaks up with Robert after learning about his role in the robbery. Chrissie locks him in a shed and pours what Robert thinks is petrol over it. She uses her cigarette lighter to scare Robert and then throws it into the liquid, with Lachlan looking on. Robert thinks he will die the same way as his mother but is relieved when nothing happens. Robert asks Aaron to run away with him to Manchester, but Aaron refuses. Lachlan convinces Robert to let Chrissie believe that Lachlan will kill himself, making her think it's because he believes it's his fault they're breaking up. Chrissie then takes Robert back. Robert becomes furious when Victoria elopes with Adam, he worries that Victoria would miss her court case after running over Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) in her car. When Robert gets Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) to follow Cain, believing he knows where they are, she takes a photo of Cain and Chrissie kissing. Robert later blackmails Cain to find out where Victoria and Adam are. He finds out they're getting married and attempts to stop the wedding. When he gets to where Cain said they'd be, Cain punches him in the face and puts him in the boot of his car. Robert's later beaten by Cain until Aaron saves him. Aaron later tells Cain about the affair – Cain, in turn, blackmails Robert with the information.