The Policewoman assisted Detective Constable Bill Sharp in the clearing-up operations after Valerie Barlow had been rescued from being held hostage by escaped rapist Frank Riley in August 1968. The following day, Sharp questioned a shaken Val in 14 Coronation Street about Riley's actions, leading her to get impatient with him about the repetitive nature of his enquiries. Sharp asked that the policewoman speak to Val with no men present and she did so, questioning Val if she had been sexually assaulted by Riley as he had form on such matters, also understanding that she might not want to talk about the matter. Val was adamant that nothing of that nature had occurred as there had been her two children in the flat at the time. The policewoman pointed out that the previous time there had been