Dorothy Hoyle Dorothy Alexandra Hoyle was the mother of Charlotte Hoyle , an unexpected accomplice in John Stape ' s fumbling plan to steal the identity of emigrating teaching colleague Colin Fishwick and thus be able to re - enter the profession from which he was banned due to his criminal record . Charlotte , who knew both men , found out about the deception and loved the " living dangerously " aspect that it brought to their lives . Tragedy struck though when the real Colin returned from Canada and found out what was going on . In a heated argument , he collapsed and died , and was buried by John and Charlotte under building works at Underworld . Charlotte , in love with John , started to pester and stalk him and he had no option but to try and carry her along . Invited - or rather summoned - to her house , he was stunned to be introduced to Dorothy and her husband Alan as " Colin " who they had been told was Charlotte ’ s fiancé . John kept quiet , although he panicked about being invited to their house for Christmas Day . Alan warned John that his daughter was always determined to get her own way and asked him to let her down gently if her genuinely wasn ’ t committed to their relationship . The unstable Charlotte started to insist that John leave wife Fiz and attacked him with a hammer inside 5 Coronation Street . He defended himself and struck her down with the same instrument in a panic when she tried to leave and tell Fiz what was going on . He left her body by the side of the rubble at the site of the tram crash which had occurred the same night , thinking she was dead and was stunned to hear that the rescuers had found that she was alive . Alan and Dorothy arrived at Weatherfield General where she was taken and were told by doctors that there was no hope of recovery from her diagnosed severe brain damage . They consulted " Colin " who agreed that her life support machine should be switched off . Despite his best efforts , John was forced to continue associating with the Hoyles , including attending her funeral where he was asked to sit on the front pew as he was " almost family " . A heart - stopping moment occurred when former teaching colleagues Ted and Kathleen recognised him but , on the pretext of needing the toilet , he managed to get away from the Hoyles and speak to them in his own persona . Outside the crematorium though , they heard Alan refer to John as " Colin " and he hurriedly explained that Alan was " gaga " and called his own wife " Bernard " . John shot way from the Hoyles as fast as he could but on Christmas Day , they turned up on the Street , asking him to join them for Christmas dinner . Desperate not to be seen by anyone , he hurriedly agreed , but ending up having to guiltily listen as they reminisced about their daughter " and " eat a second dinner with family and friends afterwards ! In April 2011 , John suffered a breakdown and upon arriving at the Hoyles ' house , began pushing money through their letterbox . Alan and Dorothy phoned Fiz ( unaware she was actually his wife ) to come and collect him . When John ' s brother in - law Chesney Brown got suspicious of John , he went to visit the Hoyles and gave them John ' s real address . When they turned up , John headed back to their house , and while in the cellar with Alan ( who had turned it into a bar ) , Alan confronted John and knew he was lying , as he was wearing a wedding ring . Dorothy later interrupted , holding John ' s ID and wanting an explanation . John then tied them up in the cellar , lured Chesney down there and tied him up as well . After a couple of weeks in the cellar , with John popping down to see them now and again , Alan attempted to tackle John on the stairs but accidentally fell down them , however he wasn ' t seriously injured . Upon their release and in the heat of the moment , John confessed to killing Charlotte and Colin Fishwick ' s mum Joy . Fiz overheard the confession and followed John . He then went on the run , and the Hoyles later sold their story about being held captive . Dorothy and Alan later appeared at Weatherfield Crown Court for Fiz ' s murder trial in October 2011 , where Dorothy was a witness for the prosecution . She gave her evidence and twisted the truth about Fiz saving them from John , desperate for justice to be served for Charlotte ' s murder . List of appearances . 2010 2011