Kerry Young

Infobox character
name = Kerry Young


caption = Beth Cordingly as PC Kerry Young
first = Episode 25 (11/07/2002)
last = Episode 254 (21/10/2004)
cause = Murdered by Gabriel Kent
occupation = Police Officer
title = Police Constable
callsign = 202
portrayer = Beth Cordingly

Police Constable Kerry Young was a popular fictional character in the ITV police drama "The Bill". She was played by Beth Cordingly. Her call sign was 'SO 202' or 'Sierra Oscar two zero two'.

PC Kerry Young

Kerry Young was described as a sparky, down to earth and upbeat woman with confidence. She was brought up single handedly by her father George because her mother died when she was four years old. Gregarious and friendly, Kerry always enjoyed a group situation, thriving on the approval of others. A career in the police force offered her a team atmosphere and ordered structure that she craved from the services, so she signed herself up straight from school.

Kerry first appeared as a woman who PC Nick Klein met in a nightclub and they went on to have a one-night stand. Much to Nick's embarrassment, she turned up the following morning as the new recruit at Sun Hill.

A young woman who lived life to the full, she was a great believer in fate and had an optimistic sense of "everything will work out for the best". Unfortunately this attitude sometimes led Kerry into trouble when she didn't weigh up the consequences against actions. She frustrated the older members of the relief with her occasional bursts of rashness brought on by frustration. Always leaping before she looked, on the whole Kerry tended to land on her feet - or her natural charm enlisted someone else to help her extricate herself from most of her scrapes. On the rare occasion that her charm didn't work, or if someone decided they didn't like her, she'd become petulant.

Marriage to Luke Ashton

Shortly after arriving at Sun Hill, Kerry fell for PC Luke Ashton and the two began a relationship that very quickly led to an engagement. Kerry and Luke were married soon afterwards but unbeknownst to Kerry, Luke was gay and had a one-night stand with Sergeant Craig Gilmore on his stag night.

It wasn't until Kerry announced she was expecting a baby that she discovered the truth about Luke and that he had been unfaithful to her. Heartbroken, Kerry decided to have an abortion but was persuaded by Luke not to go through with it. Despite listening to him, Kerry told Luke that their marriage was over and left him. Sadly, she had a miscarriage shortly afterwards.

Relationship with Dale Smith

Several months later when a new Sergeant arrived at Sun Hill, Luke was surprised to see an old face return - Dale Smith. Kerry fell for him immediately and had a light-hearted flirtation with him, resulting in them kissing on his first day back at Sun Hill. A relationship developed between the two, much to the dismay of Luke. Luke later left Sun Hill and Kerry was heartbroken, having begged him to move away with her and vowed that she would never let a man treat her like that again.

Some time later, Smithy built up the courage to ask Kerry out on a date, which she accepted, but he later backed out when he decided that an intimate relationship between a Sergeant and a PC would not work and denied that he was attracted to her. But Kerry knew Smithy couldn't resist his chances with her and seduced him in the back of his car during an obbo, only to be interrupted by PC Des Taviner. Smithy thereafter made it clear to Kerry that their relationship was strictly professional, but later regretted pushing her away.

Love triangle with Smithy and Cameron Tait

Following a drunken night of passion, Kerry began a relationship with PC Cameron Tait. However, what she didn't realise was that she was caught up in a love triangle with both Cameron and Smithy, as both men were pining for her affections. Smithy's jealousy of Cameron led him to warning Cameron about Kerry's so-called 'reputation' and Cameron stormed off after a row with Kerry on the subject. Kerry grew ever more irate with Smithy's jealous behaviour and accused him of trying to ruin her relationship with Cameron. After a heavy drinking session, Kerry and Smithy slept together.

However, Kerry had no recollection of her night of passion with Smithy and felt gulity for cheating on Cameron. But unfortunately, corrupt officer PC Gabriel Kent took advantage and manipulated her into believing that Smithy had raped her, but she did not make the allegation official. Smithy's reputation with the relief was damaged when Gabriel spread the rumour and when Cameron eventually found out the truth, Kerry's personal life took centre stage during an armed robbery at a bank where the manager had a bomb strapped to his waist. Kerry was momentarily distracted by Cameron's demand for answers, and the bomb went off whilst she was unable to diffuse the panic. Kerry later realised that even though Smithy had taken advantage, he hadn't raped her and dropped the allegation completely. Despite Kerry's affair with Smithy, she and Cameron decided to give their disastrous relationship another try.

Attack by Gabriel Kent and Downfall

Kerry began to question Gabriel's friendship when he kissed her while out on call. Cameron later surprised her with a marriage proposal, which she accepted. But however, Kerry was brutally raped by the increasingly manipulative Gabriel, who knew that no one would believe her after the allegations against Smithy. Gabriel even made sure Kerry kept quiet about the rape by blackmailing her for neglecting her duty during the armed robbery at the bank and managed to twist things enough to make Cameron leave Sun Hill after he deliberately goaded Cameron into assaulting him in the station canteen. Kerry was distraught when she realised she couldn't tell the truth following her previous 'cry of rape' that her life was destroyed and she gave up completely. No longer happy-go-lucky, Kerry turned into a very different person, alienated herself from her friends and colleagues and was guided by a darker force.

Her self-destructive behaviour led her to helping DC Rob Thatcher to expose the highly criminal family, the Radfords by going unofficially undercover and even starting a relationship with David Radford. Smithy had become alarmed by Kerry's self-destructive behaviour and when he learned of her undercover mission with the Radfords, he sussed her out but then organised a raid when she reported what she had discovered. However, Irene, David and Wayne Radford discovered Smithy and he and Kerry were exposed as police officers, resulting in the two nearly getting killed in the fallout. But despite the attempted murder, Kerry continued to consort with David and when later exposed, Inspector Gina Gold warned her that her career at Sun Hill was on the line.

However, Kerry soon realised where her priorities lay when she caught David with another woman. When David held an armed robbery, Kerry sabotaged the operation and arrested him. But when it seemed that David Radford would finally be put away, Irene Radford presented evidence proving that Kerry had helped plan the robbery and persuaded David to go through with it in the first place. This resulted in Kerry being arrested and suspended from the Met.

mithy declares his love

The day after her suspension, Kerry's father was hospitalised after having a stroke. Kerry had realised how ruined her life was and how she had made things worse with her foolish mistakes. When Smithy discovered her whereabouts, he dashed to her side to ensure her safety. Wrecked with shame at how she had disgraced the Force, Kerry relived all the folly of her life and poured out the error and foolishness of her mistakes. Smithy was completely sympathetic towards her and comforted her, but he realised that he had to tell her how much she really meant to him. It was at that moment that he finally declared his love for her. Kerry finally discovered the true depths of her feelings for Smithy and after his declaration of love, she realised that there was still something good in her life. Smithy made her realise that there was still hope for her and she finally began to see the light once again.

Kerry's tragic death

Kerry had discovered that Gabriel was working with the Force under a false identity and that PC Andera Dunbar was really an undercover journalist, leaking stories from the station to the press and was having an affair with DI Neil Manson. Kerry decided to reveal all the secrets she knew before resigning from the Force, prompting her to declare her love for Smithy. But just moments after Kerry told Smithy she loved him too, the evil Gabriel cruelly cut their life together short when he took aim from the rooftop of a nearby building with a sniper rifle and Kerry was shot. Gunned down in the arms of the man she loved, Smithy cradled Kerry as she was left fighting for her life and remained at her side when she was rushed to hospital. Upon arrival, Smithy watched helplessly as the doctors tried to resuscitate Kerry. But they lost their battle to save her and Smithy broke down when Kerry tragically died. Devastated and heartbroken, Smithy went mad with grief and swore out of all his love for Kerry that he would find whoever killed her and avenge her death.

External links

* [http://www.thebillbios.co.uk/kerry_young.htm PC Kerry Young]
*wikia|thebill|The Bill Wiki|Young, Kerry|Kerry Young