Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson was the American fiance of Nick Bates. The pair began writing to each other during 1997 whilst Nick was on remand for accidentally shooting a poacher.
Karen arrived in the village in May 1997, and almost immediately evoked suspicion by hanging around the tearooms and presenting Nick's daughter, Alice, with a teddy bear. When Alice's guardian, Kathy, went to question Karen, she drove off. 
The following day, Karen approached Alice outside school, and walked her home without Kathy's knowledge. Kathy was furious when she realised what had happened and ordered her to stay away from Alice. However, Karen informed Kathy that she and Nick were engaged and, upon his release from prison, would be going to live in America, taking Alice with them. Kathy visited Nick in prison, who confirmed Karen's story, and told his sister that he wanted Karen to take custody of Alice in the event that he was handed a lengthy sentence. However, in June 1997, Nick was sentenced to ten years in prison and Karen left the area alone.
Karen returned to the village in August 1997 and abducted Alice from the village playground. Karen took Alice to a hotel and told her that they were going to live in America. However, by a stroke of luck, Jack Sugden and Rachel Hughes spotted Karen leading Alice across the car park of a service station and were able to intervene. The police were called and Karen was arrested.
==List of appearances==
===1997===
*Wed 21st May
*Thu 22nd May
*Thu 29th May
*Wed 4th Jun
*Thu 5th Jun
*Wed 11th Jun
*Thu 7th Aug
*Tue 12th Aug
Category:Emmerdale characters
Category:1997 minor characters