List of Minor Emmerdale Characters (2005) - Sarah Sugden

Sarah Charity Sugden (née Dingle) is the daughter of Andy Sugden and Debbie Dingle. She has appeared since 2005.

When Debbie discovers her pregnancy, she conceals it and plans to abandon the child at the hospital after the birth. However, she gives birth in a shed assisted by Daz Eden – Sarah’s uncle – and names the child after Andy’s adoptive mother, Sarah Sugden, and her mother, Charity. Debbie decides, at 15 years old, she cannot cope with being a mother and persuades her foster mother, Emily Kirk, to take her when she leaves the village. Six months later, Emily returns Sarah after curate Ethan Blake convinces her that Andy should have custody of his daughter and Debbie agrees, provided she is not expected to be part of Sarah's life, and Sarah lives at Butler’s Farm. Andy remains suspicious of Emily, and in July 2007, is furious when he finds out that she has got a job at Sarah’s nursery but doesn't take it on seeing the animosity against her that Andy has caused amongst the other parents.

In October 2007, Lisa Dingle tries to get Debbie to be part of Sarah's life after making sure they spend an afternoon together. However, Debbie refuses and says she would be happy to allow Jo to adopt her but cannot bring herself to sign the papers. In early 2008, Andy is sent to prison and in his absence, Debbie starts bonding with Sarah. When he finds out on his release that Debbie has had access to Sarah, he ends up hitting Jo when she tries to stop him going to collect Sarah from Debbie's house. This begins months of abuse by Andy, sending Jo to hospital on two occasions. Sarah senses the problems and is suspended from nursery after biting another child. Eventually Andy moves out, leaving Sarah with Jo but Sarah misses him and he is allowed supervised access. While Andy seems reformed, Jo discovers that he is sabotaging farm equipment so she would ask him to visit and decides to leave the village on 22 December 2008. Reluctantly she leaves Sarah with the Dingles, asking them to keep her away from Andy. Debbie is now a lot closer to her daughter but refuses to take custody, because – unknown to the Dingles – she is worried about being arrested for her part in the murder of PC Shane Doyle.

In January 2009, Debbie is held on remand awaiting trial for Shane's murder and in February, Sarah spends the night at Andy's, following the funeral of his adoptive father, Jack Sugden. However, the following day, Andy informs the police of Cain Dingle's return, and he is arrested at the airport so the Dingles refuse Andy access to Sarah but have to allow him to take custody as Debbie is in prison until in June, Debbie is awarded sole residency of Sarah after Andy withdrew his application.

In 2011, Debbie and Andy are worried, as Sarah starts bruising easily and complains of feeling tired. Debbie initially worries that someone is hurting Sarah, even questioning Cameron Murray (Dominic Power), but eventually books a doctor's appointment and Sarah is eventually diagnosed with Fanconi anemia, and needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life. However, after tests for bone marrow transplants are done, there's only 1 match but the person pulls out, leaving Sarah's parents and family devastated. Sarah's parents then thinks of another way to save her, which is to have a saviour sibling. Debbie gave birth to a boy, named after Andy's late adoptive father Jack, on 17 October 2012. He is a match for Sarah and she has the operation to save her life.