Helen's wedding to Gordon makes Lewis realise his feelings for Ruth and the pair reunite. Lewis rescues Lucy Benson (Kerrie Taylor), Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) and Ruth from Rob Hawthorne (Warren De Rosa). Lewis goes into business with Rory Finnigan (James Redmond), as the pair open a night-club which they call The Loft. Lewis befriends another local nightclub owner, Lorraine Wilson (Jo-Anne Knowles), and Lewis begins to gamble in her casino. Lewis discovers that Ruth has had an abortion and in a rage he hits her. Lewis begins borrowing money from Lorraine, which mounts up. Lorraine offers him the chance to wipe his debt by having sex with her. Ruth discovers Lewis's debt and his stealing so hits him, to which he responds by hitting her back. Lewis and Ruth end their relationship. Helen becomes suspicious of Lewis's gambling addiction. In a rage Lewis almost hits his mother. Lewis decides to visit Ireland to spend some time alone and returns as a new man. A loan shark arrives looking for Lewis as he had taken a loan out in Ireland under the name of Ruth's dead husband, Kurt Benson (Jeremy Edwards). Lewis is given thirty days to repay his debts. To repay his debt Lewis has sex with Geri Hudson (Joanna Taylor) before stealing money off her which she had made from a charity event. Ruth discovers Lewis's debts and persuades Tony to buy Lewis out of The Loft. In Hollyoaks: Movin' On, Lewis tries to persuade Ruth to reignite their relationship, but Ruth is angered when she discovers Lewis had used Kurt’s name for a loan. Lewis arrives at Ruth’s flat where he attempts to force himself on her. Ruth tells Lewis that he is like his father, which Lewis responded to by beating her before leaving her for dead. Feeling guilty for what he had done, Lewis takes an overdose of paracetemol. He awakes at the hospital but dies soon after. Reception Hull was nominated for Best villain and Best actor in 2002 at the British Soap Awards for his role. The Liverpool Echo described Lewis as "one of the programme's most popular characters". The storyline in which Lewis has sex with Lorraine to pay off his debts was described as a "sizzling sex shocker plotline" in which Lewis "will become a sex slave in a torrid new storyline". The Daily Record initially described him as a "nice