comes home but Pete cannot cope with his guilt and tells Debbie he killed Ross, shocking her and she compares him to Cameron. Ross, however, is later seen alive in a hospital bed, determined to win back Debbie. They later begin a relationship. Debbie leaves on New Year's Day 2016 after learning Ross shot Robert (now played by Ryan Hawley) and Andy was involved. In October 2016, Debbie decides to sell the business and her home to Chrissie, apparently deciding also not to come back to the village. In January 2017, Cain is watching the news in which he spots Debbie with Sarah and Jack taking them on the run with her after stealing a car with 50,000 euros in it and committing a hit and run, Cain tries to contact her but she doesn't answer. The next day she returns to the village with all the French and English police looking for her, Debbie tells Charity and Cain the hit and run wasn't her and must've happened before she stole the car. Two men then turn up at the Dingles, and after tying up Sam, they kidnap Sarah and Jack, and demand £50,000 by later that evening. Debbie, Cain, Charity, and Ross manage to acquire the money by having Charity pose as Chrissie - even though the plan nearly failed after Charity shot herself with a horse tranquilizer gun. The men get their money and return Sarah and Jack in a tense standoff. Debbie breaks down later that night - she needs the money for Sarah's medical treatment as she has been diagnosed with cancer. When Debbie's grandmother Faith comes back to Emmerdale she donates money for Sarah's treatment. Debbie tells everyone that she is taking Sarah to Prague for her treatment, which is met with her families doubt on whether she will make it out of the country without being arrested. As a result, Charity plans on taking Sarah instead of Debbie. Debbie later begins a relationship with businessman Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) after he buys her a new car however he pretends his name is Tom Waterhouse but later reveals he is Joe Tate, Chris' son and Debbie's former stepbrother, Joe also reveals that he blames Charity for his father's death. He starts feuding with the Dingles saying he never loved Debbie and she soon learns that Tom has invested in a golf course that will be