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Julia Stone was the lover and associate of Greg Kelly who in March 1999 prostituted herself out to his rival Mike Baldwin in order to extort money from him.

Allegedly representing Mercury Fabrics Julia attempted to interest Underworld boss Mike Baldwin in some textile samples and offered to take him out for a meal. Despite insisting that Julia take him to an expensive restaurant Mike was unimpressed with the samples and was also unamused by her heavy flirting. Mike told Julia that he wasn't interested in the fabric or her. Mike reported back to his wife Alma about Julia's attempts to seduce him and reassured her that he rejected the advances. Undeterred Julia contacted Mike's rival Greg Kelly and revealed that she was confident in her ability to weaken Mike.

The following month Mike was intrigued to find Julia hanging around the Rovers Return. She informed him that she was going to the annual rag trade ball and hoped to see him there. Unable to trust himself around Julia, Mike had second thoughts about attending the ball but eventually decided to book a room at the Charters Hotel. After Julia made it clear to Mike that she wanted him he decided to head up to her room, however, he was stopped by the arrival of Alma who had decided to show up to the ball after the course she was supposed to be attending was canceled. The next morning while checking out Mike was presented with a note by the receptionist which contained Julia's phone number and address. When Mike contacted Julia she invited him to spend the weekend with her and he assured her that nothing would stop them this time.

Having told Alma that he was heading on a business trip to London, Mike felt guilty when she made a fuss of him before he left. At Julia's the pair ate before heading to the bedroom and sleeping together. Mike enjoyed his night but having succeeded in her mission Julia couldn't wait to get rid of him. She came up with the excuse that she had to work in order to cut their weekend short and a disappointed Mike returned home to Alma telling her that he returned early as he felt bad for leaving her all weekend. Later that day Julia busied herself clearing everything out of her flat.

Following their encounter Mike was left confused when Julia refused to accept his phone calls and contacted her company only to learn that they had never heard of her. As a last resort he turned up on her doorstep and discovered the place deserted and that she had moved out. He then received photographs of himself in the post that showed him in bed with Julia. Mike decided to confess everything to Alma but changed his mind after she found a lump on her breast. Mike comforted Alma when she shared her fears about breast cancer and he promised her the best treatment money could buy. However, Julia made contact for the first time and revealed that £10,000 would buy him the negatives of the pictures. Mike accepted the proposal and a few days later handed the money over to Julia in exchange for the negatives. Mike was relieved that the nightmare was finally over, and that Alma's test results had come back negative, but Julia wasn't done yet and phone Mike again revealing that she had more negatives which could be his for an additional £10,000. Mike feigned disinterest but Greg told Julia that he was confident he would pay up.

When Julia met up with Mike for the second payment he lied to her that he had already confessed everything to Alma and therefore wouldn't be paying. Greg called Mike's bluff and decided to send Julia round to his flat in order to frighten him. When Mike returned home he was stunned to find Julia in the flat talking to Alma and threatened that he'd kill her if she wrecked his marriage. Julia was shaken by the outburst and told Greg that she didn't want to continue their scheme. Annoyed by Julia, Greg lashed out towards her making her fear for her safety. Having packed her things Julia told Greg that his obsession with Mike was dangerous and that she was leaving him. She was furious when Greg refused to give her a share of the £10,000 they'd extorted from Mike.

In a final act of defiance and self preservation, Julia returned to Mike and offered to reveal the puppet master behind the blackmail for £2,000. He agreed and was stunned when she revealed Greg had orchestrated everything. Julia gave Mike an address for Greg but refused to take him there herself and fled.

List of appearances[]

1999

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