Neil Fearns

Neil Fearns was revealed as the father of Sarah Platt's daughter, Bethany. He was an 'absent father' and had nothing to do with Bethany, although his family did send her a card for her first birthday.

In 2003, it was revealed that Neil had died in a car crash. Martin and Gail Platt broke the news to Sarah who was shocked at Neil's death but not overly emotional. At Martin's insistence, Sarah took Bethany to Neil's funeral where she met his mother, Brenda. Following Neil's death, Brenda became mentally instable. She became attached to Bethany and kidnapped her after she began visiting her regularly. Bethany later was safely returned to her mother, and Brenda was left sobbing in the back of an ambulance.