upon his release from prison in may 2002, after serving two years for fraud, joe carter is picked up by factory owner mike baldwin (johnny briggs) and brought to coronation street to work as factory manager in "underworld." he immediately clashes with dev alahan (jimmi harkishin) when he asks geena gregory (jennifer james) out on a date. dev later tries to warn joe off, accusing him of being a crook just out of prison. joe is angry and threatens dev.