Storylines
Lucas is the estranged father of Chelsea Fox (Tiana Benjamin), introduced to EastEnders when she tracks him down and discovers that he is a preacher. Lucas explains that he was seventeen when Chelsea was born, and abandoned her and her mother Denise (Diane Parish) as he could not cope with fatherhood. He became a drug addict, but overcame his addiction and joined the church. Chelsea reluctantly agrees to give Lucas a chance, but is unhappy to learn he has a teenage son, Jordan (Michael-Joel David Stuart). Lucas comes to Chelsea's aid when she develops a drug habit, but Denise is furious to see him and tells him to stay away. Denise eventually forgives Lucas and they rekindle their relationship, becoming engaged.
Jordan reveals that Lucas is still married to his mother, Trina (Sharon Duncan Brewster), though Lucas explains they are separated as she abandoned Jordan after he was born premature and addicted to heroin. Trina repeatedly tries to come between Lucas and Denise. She eventually agrees to a divorce, planning to move to Walford to be with Jordan. Lucas and Trina have sex, and during an argument, Lucas pushes her away and unintentionally causes her throat to be impaled on a rake. He leaves her to die, making it appear that she died in an accident while taking drugs. The coroner subsequently gives a verdict of accidental death.
Denise's ex-husband Owen Turner (Lee Ross) becomes suspicious of Lucas's involvement in Trina's death, and confronts him on his wedding day. When Owen threatens to go to the police, Lucas strangles him to death. He marries Denise, then buries Owen's body in Albert Square, under a tree planted in Trina's name. When Jordan's dog Sugar starts sniffing around the tree, Lucas disposes of her at a nearby canal, telling his family that she ran away. Jordan is later hospitalised after being attacked by Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones) and Lucas blames himself, leading to him suffering a breakdown. He meets a woman named Jade (Niamh Webb) in a bar and takes her to a secluded area, where he forces her to kneel and pray. Denise becomes suspicious after finding deep scratch marks on his neck, so Lucas takes her to visit Jade, who reveals that Lucas baptised her and washed away her sins. She says it will help her give up her alcohol dependence and get her daughter back. Denise tells Lucas that she is proud of what he has done.
Owen's body is discovered when Trina's tree is accidentally broken. Lucas confesses to Denise, claiming he killed him in self-defence. Denise is horrified, but urges Lucas not to tell the police. He later admits that he could have saved Trina's life but chose not to, claiming that he will go to the police and tell them everything. Instead, he takes Denise to a canal, intending to baptise her. When Denise refuses to submit to God, he strangles her and fakes her suicide. Lucas murders a prostitute, Gemma (Rita Balogun), who resembles Denise, and places her body in the canal. He implicates Denise in Trina and Owen's murders, while keeping her prisoner in the basement of the empty house next door. Lucas gradually comes to the realisation that his actions were wrong, and allows Denise to escape. He attempts to take his family hostage, but they escape and Lucas is arrested. In his jail cell, he scratches religious messages on the wall with his finger nails, causing them to bleed. He writes "sorry" in his blood, and hands his bible to an officer, saying he will not need it where he is going. In February 2011, Denise watches as Lucas is sentenced (off-screen) to life imprisonment. Shortly after, Denise celebrates her divorce from him, but does consider visiting him in January 2013 when he sends her a visiting order.
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