January 1999, a mentally unbalanced Roy kidnaps and threatens to murder Claire. When Claire defends Roy, Pete beats her and she leaves Charnham. Pete becomes close to Julie-Ann Jones (Chloe Howman) and almost sleeps with her. Julie-Ann's mother realizes what could have happened and informs Pete that he is Julie-Ann's father. Easter told Sue Malins from Soaplife that "Pete always regrets that Julie-Ann came into his life a fully grown woman and that he missed out on her childhood years." Pete begins a brief relationship with Dave's ex-wife Cat Matthews (Nicola Duffett). Pete goes into a de facto marriage to Cat for several months, but it is revealed to have been a con perpetrated by Pete to exact revenge on Dave, and to swindle Cat out of her home; he convinces her to sign over ownership of her home to him as a formality to expedite a business transaction. After this was done he reveals the con to her, ends the relationship, and keeps the house. Soon after this Cat finds out she is pregnant. Tests show the child to be Pete's. She gives birth to a son David (nicknamed Davie). Pete is annoyed when Cat puts Dave as David Jr's father on his birth certificate. Pete decides he will be more successful in a custody battle if he is also married, and he decides on family friend Siobhan Jones (Jemma Walker). Easter explained that "he realizes that he has to find a partner so he can present himself as part of a stable relationship equipped to raise a child." Easter believed that Pete targets Siobhan despite being aware that she is vulnerable. But she had always called him "Uncle Pete" and viewed him as a friend. As the storyline progresses he proposes to her. Easter added that "despite being completely calculating in the beginning"; Pete proposes marriage out of genuine love. Pete enters into a rivalry with Josh over Siobhan's affections. After selling The Lock and buying The Black Swan, Pete's employs Josh as a barman to pay off a debt. Josh realizes Pete's marriage with Siobhan is bigamous, though they legally remarry. During a showdown at The Black Swann, Pete murders Josh and frames Siobhan for the crime. She is found guilty and given a suspended sentence. Soon after the trial she realises that Pete had framed her. She aborts their child and walks out on him. He