Shortly after Jim leaves, Dot hears a doorbell ring and assumes that Jim has come back to collect his hat. She opens the door, but is surprised to find Nick waiting outside. Nick comes in the house, and claims to his mother that he has changed and is now a plumber. Dot ends up believing Nick when he introduces her to his six-year-old daughter Dotty (Molly Conlin), thus disclosing that his mother now has a granddaughter. Although Dot promptly bonds with Dotty, she continues to remain apprehensive towards Nick and quickly learns that he is once again exploiting their reconciliation for her. She refuses to pay him, so Nick responds by telling his mother that she either relents or cannot see Dotty again. This causes Dot to give Nick the money, and he in turn allows her to look after Dotty. It soon transpires, however, that Nick is plotting to kill Dot for her life insurance - and that Dotty is secretly involved with her father's plan. They work in convince Dot that she has symptoms of dementia, but their plan backfires when Dotty exposes the plot. In a rage, Nick holds various members of the community hostage in the café, resulting in an explosion. Nick survives and heads back home to find Dot expecting his arrival. She renounces Nick as her son and orders him to leave for good. Nick does, but not before informing his mother that Dotty had masterminded the murder plot in the first place. Months later, Dotty is retrieved by her mother, Sandy (Caroline Pegg) following various devious deeds - such as accusing Dot of beating her that leads to Dot getting arrested and being questioned by the police for child abuse. Dot is released without charge and is distraught see Dotty leave Walford.