aidan was a pupil at weatherfield comprehensive school, who made life difficult for his teacher ken barlow (william roache). he began dating sarah-louise platt (tina o'brien) and led her astray, while also becoming friendly with her best friend candice stowe (nikki sanderson). they drank alcohol and played truant, causing sarah's step-father richard hillman (brian capron) to warn him off. aidan took sarah for a joyride in his car and he crashed into a lorry. he left sarah for dead and she broke up with him. richard framed aidan for killing maxine peacock (tracy shaw), resulting in his arrest. aidan was proven innocent when richard later confessed.