Kate Morton made her first appearance in Walford, a fictionalized borough in East London, at the local hospital - where she meets Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), the local hardman of Walford's community area: Albert Square. She quickly learns that Phil is visiting his godson, Jamie (Jack Ryder), who is dying from injuries sustained in a road accident. When Jamie dies, Kate supports Phil and they begin a relationship. As an undercover policewoman, she introduces herself as Kate Tyler and tells him that she is a nail technician. Kate helps her boss Jill Marsden (Sophie Stanton) and DI Dominic Price (Paul Brennen) set up a honey trap, hoping Phil will confess to murdering his ex-girlfriend Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin). However, Kate unintentionally sabotages her own efforts by falling in love with Phil - prompting Marsden to fire her. Phil soon learns about Kate's police identity and ends their relationship, threatening to kill her if they ever meet again.