audrey whittingham, played by shirley dixon, kidnaps vicki fowler (samantha leigh martin) while she is waiting to be collected outside walford primary school. a police investigation is launched. prime suspect is jack woodman (james gilbey), who is infatuated with vicki's mother michelle fowler (susan tully), however audrey and vicki are identified by the shopkeeper of a toy store several days later. audrey had used a cheque to pay for vicki's toys and the police were able to trace her to her home. vicki is returned to her mother unharmed and audrey is arrested.