Stuart meets Jonathan Verne (Oscar Redding) at a festival and he tells him about his group, Life Mechanics. Stuart joins the group and ignores his friends who say he is joining a cult. He begins spending more time with Jonathan and he starts running his own meetings. His friends turn against him. It soon emerges that Jonathan has been conning people out of money nationwide. Stuart retreats away from everyone for a while, before making amends. Stuart applies to be a police officer. On his first day, Stuart is partnered with Olivia McPherson (Silvia de Crespigny), they get on well and Stuart develops a crush on her. However, when he discovers she is corrupt, he reports her. Stuart fails to get on well with Toadie's new girlfriend, Sindi Watts (Marisa Warrington), but during an argument, they kiss. Sindi tells Toadie, and they stay together. When Toadie breaks up with her, Stuart and Sindi begin a secret relationship.