Aaron Dingle

Aaron Livesy is the son of Chas Dingle and Gordon Livesy. His early storylines mainly consisted of being involved with the criminal McFarlane family. He has had some high profile storylines during his time in Emmerdale including, making a pass at his best friend, Adam Barton, coming to terms with his homosexuality, attempted suicide, his relationship with Jackson Walsh, helping Jackson commit suicide and subsequently self harming over the grief and guilt.

Aaron returned in August 2014; his storylines included become involved in a heist between Donna Windsor and Ross Barton, clearing his name on the terms of arson, an affair with Robert Sugden, his subsequent role in Katie Sugden's death, his self-harming returning, revealing that he was repeatedly raped by his father when he was a child and reuniting with his estranged half-sister, Liv Flaherty.

2003 - 2006: Visits to Chas
When Aaron was young, his parents, Gordon Livesy and Chas Dingle, separated and Chas left her son to live with his father and Gordon's second wife, Sandra. Aaron visits his mother in Emmerdale, where he tells her that he resents her for not raising him and explains that he feels that she abandoned him. The two begin to bond, before Aaron returns home to his father. Aaron returns to visit Chas, but she reprimands him after she catches him talking to other people about her behind her back. Louise Appleton witnesses Chas slapping Aaron and tells Gordon when he arrives to collect his son. Gordon tells Chas that her relationship with her son is over and that Aaron will not visit her again. Despite this, Aaron returns to Emmerdale several months later, staying longer expected as he came into contact with a person who had German measles and Sandra was pregnant. Aaron returns home to his father and his stepmother, after telling Chas that while she was in the Army, her partner Carl King had a one night stand with her cousin, Del Dingle.

2008 - 2009: Arrival in Emmerdale
Aaron returns in November 2008, when he is arrested by Ross Kirk in Emmerdale for possession of drugs. He receives a caution, and, after being released from police custody, goes for a meal with Chas, who had been informed of his arrest. Aaron runs away from his mother later in the day, after the two have an argument. In an attempt to track down the teenager, Chas’ family visits Gordon and Sandra, who reveal that Aaron was thrown out for hitting the latter. It is soon learnt by the Dingles that the teenager has become a drug courier for the McFarlanes, a local criminal family. The McFarlanes are angered by the discovery that Aaron had been with the police but reach an agreement with the Dingles that they will leave the teenager alone and no longer ask for his services if he never discusses their criminal activities. At her son’s request, Chas agrees to take Aaron home to Gordon, but he refuses to allow the teenager to return. Aaron vandalizes his father’s office in revenge, but Gordon cannot prove this and Chas gives her son a false alibi. Aaron then reluctantly agrees to stay with his mother and the Dingles in Wishing Well Cottage.

Aaron initially clashes with Victoria Sugden, but they become friends and, on Christmas Day, he helps rescue her when she falls into a frozen lake. A few weeks later, Aaron trashes Carl King’s house and vandalizes the graves of his relatives. He is found out and has to clean graffiti off the house and grave. Aaron tells Chas that he does not want her dating Carl (now her ex) again, and she informs a disappointed Carl that they cannot get back together. Days later, the teenager convinces his younger cousin Belle Dingle to take the day off school and go with him to Home Farm, where the Wyldes are moving in. Aaron steals from their van, accidentally leaving Belle to take the blame. When her mother Lisa finds out, she throws him out, and he and Chas move into Smithy Cottage, the home of his mother’s boss, veterinarian Paddy Kirk. When the vet catches him selling animal drugs, Chas and Aaron return to stay with the Dingles, and Lisa has Aaron take a job as a mechanic at the garage of his cousin Debbie Dingle. Debbie's father and Aaron's rogue uncle, Cain Dingle returns to Emmerdale after stealing a fortune from the Kings. Aaron instantly looks up to his uncle, worrying his mother Chas.

Aaron begins a relationship with Victoria, but he and her foster brother Daz Eden constantly argue about her, with the latter claiming that Aaron has been taking advantage of the underage girl. One argument results in Aaron being punched and knocked to the ground, while a second ends in Daz being left bloody-mouthed. Aaron loses his virginity to Victoria, but breaks up with her when he finds out that she has had sex with Daz. He then tells Daz's brother Andy about Daz and Andy's adopted sister Victoria sleeping together, leading to Daz fleeing Emmerdale to escape Andy's fury. As Chas has started dating Paddy, her and Aaron move back into Smithy Cottage. Aaron initially doesn't take to Paddy and takes the micky out of his wimpish ways. However, Aaron eventually starts to bond with Paddy. Aaron begins flirting with Holly Barton, after her family move into nearby Butler’s Farm. When Aaron ignites a bale of hay at the Barton’s farm, Holly’s father John hits him and locks him in a stable for a short time. The teenager reports John to the police but agrees to drop all charges after the Dingles and the Bartons learn that Aaron attempted to use the situation to blackmail Holly for sex.

After a holiday abroad, Aaron discovers that during his absence from Emmerdale, Chas has cheated on Paddy with Carl. His mother has left her job at the vets and moved in with Carl, leaving Aaron to stay with Paddy, who the teenager has bonded with. A furious Aaron tells Chas that he hates her and wants nothing more to do with her. Shortly thereafter, the Bartons show some forgiveness to the teenager. He becomes best friends with Holly’s brother Adam and tries to kiss him after they are involved in a run-off-road collision. A shocked Adam pulls away and confronts him. Frightened that everybody will know his secret, an embarrassed Aaron tells his friend that he did not try to kiss him, and that Adam must have misunderstood the situation. Adam is unconvinced and expresses disapproval when Aaron enters into a relationship with Holly.

2010 - 2011: Coming to terms with his sexuality and relationship with Jackson
After Aaron sleeps with Holly, Adam tells his family what happened on the night of the crash and asserts that Aaron is gay. All of Adam’s family believe that he has misread the situation, and state that Aaron is as straight as they come. This view is shared by the Emmerdale locals when the claim is spread. Aaron confronts Adam, who tells him that he is fine with Aaron being gay, but that he does not want his sister to be used to conceal his friend’s sexuality. Aaron again denies being gay and states that he will continue to date Holly. Aaron’s friendship with Adam deteriorates, and his relationship with Holly ends when she tells him that something is missing from it.Aaron visits a gay bar and meets Jackson Walsh. He leaves his phone behind and Jackson finds it, returning the phone to Paddy and leaving his number for Aaron to call. Aaron is terrified that Paddy will work out what has being going on, but returns to Bar West to meet with Jackson. This time Paddy watches from the car and is convinced that Aaron has returned to his drug dealing when he sees him and Jackson exchange something outside the bar, not realising that Jackson gave Aaron his business card. Paddy confronts Aaron, who denies being a drug dealer. When Paddy discovers that Aaron visited a gay bar, he asks Aaron if he is gay and Aaron attacks him. Aaron tearfully apologises and admits that he is gay but rejects his sexuality. Paddy attempts to convince him that he cannot deny who he is, and tells Aaron that he is like a son to him and that he loves him. Unable to face Paddy anymore, Aaron runs away, though he soon returns to the village, intent on living in denial of his sexuality. Chas and her cousin Marlon Dingle suspect that Aaron is responsible for the assault on Paddy, who lies to them both about the origin of his injuries to cover for the teenager. However, they remain unconvinced.

Aaron agrees to meet Jackson, but changes his mind and has a drink with Victoria, who suggests giving their relationship another go. Aaron turns her down and she apologises, telling him that they can be just friends. However, Jackson comes to the village and he and Aaron talk. They go to kiss, but are interrupted by Paddy and Marlon. They do not see anything but Aaron still tells Jackson to leave. Paddy then confesses to Marlon that it was Aaron who attacked him and reveals to Marlon that Aaron is gay.

Aaron returns to Bar West to find Jackson, who initially ignores him but eventually relents and offers to buy him a drink. After a night out at the bar, Jackson and Aaron kiss however Adam sees them together. Aaron tries to ignore Adam even though Adam says he has no problem with Aaron being gay. The following day, Jackson comes to The Woolpack and when he touches Aaron's arm, Aaron punches him. Aaron is charged with ABH and told he will stand trial. Paddy then tells Chas that Aaron  is gay.

Aaron finds out that Chas and Marlon know about his sexuality and tries to kill himself by inhaling car fumes, but Cain and Adam drag him outside. He is taken to to hospital in a coma. When he wakes, Aaron is visited by Chas and Adam, and their support for him in the following days restrengthens his relationship with both. With the court day looming, Chas and Paddy encourage Aaron to admit he is gay to try and get a lighter sentence. However Aaron refuses. During his court case, Aaron tearfully admits that he is gay in front of his family and Jackson. Aaron gets community service. When a newcomer starts at community service, Wayne Dobson begins to taunt him but Aaron comes to his aid, embarrassing Wayne in front of the whole group. Wayne Dobson  then taunts Aaron about his sexuality. Jackson witnesses Aaron being threatened by Wayne and protects him. After talking things through, they share a kiss and spend the night together. Aaron and Jackson then begin a relationship.

Jackson’s mother, Hazel Rhodes, accidentally floods Jackson’s apartment and Paddy asks them to stay at Smithy Cottage. Aaron, having met Hazel previously, is none too thrilled about the arrangement and makes his feelings clear to Jackson and Hazel. Jackson picks up on this and, having finished the renovations on Declan’s house, decides to book his mother into the B&B and go on holiday himself, giving Aaron some space. Aaron, having finished his community payback and not wanting Jackson to be scared off by his moodiness, offers to go on holiday with Jackson, also allowing to let Hazel stay on at Smithy. Upon their return, the boys decide to give living together at Smithy a try.

After trying to sell a clocked car to Pearl Ladderbanks, Aaron then sells it to Mickey Hall. Mickey finds out about the car being clocked and demands his money back but Aaron refuses. Aaron uses his dog, Clyde, to try to intimidate Mickey, but Mickey sets his own dog on Clyde, seriously injuring him, so Clyde has to be put down while Aaron breaks down in Paddy's arms. Jackson pays Mickey his money back and while Jackson and Aaron argue, Jackson tells Aaron that he loves him. Aaron believe things are becoming too serious for him and the pair do not talk for days. They make up though and invite Paddy and Marlon Dingle on a night out to the gay bar and Paddy and Marlon come with them not realising where they are going. Aaron goes out for a cigarette and spots Mickey. Jackson once again dumps Aaron after realising Aaron will never change his violent tendencies. Jackson tries to drive off but Aaron gets in the van and they drive off. They have an emotional chat and Aaron says he doesn’t know if he loves Jackson because he’s not used to people caring about him, so he doesn’t know how to care about others, let alone love someone. Aaron gets out of the van and Jackson drives off. Aaron tries to ring him to say that he didn’t mean it, which makes Jackson lose control of the van when he tries to pick up his phone. He crashes onto a railway line and subsequently gets hit by a train. Aaron runs after Jackson and finds him unconscious with obvious head injuries.

At the hospital, Hazel calls Jackson’s father, Jerry, and he wastes no time in blaming Aaron for the whole situation. Jerry warns Aaron not to come near Jackson again, to which Hazel blows her top when she learns of it. Aaron later calls back to the hospital, against Jerry’s wishes, and Jerry attempts to start a fight with him but later backs off. Aaron realises that Hazel has disappeared and he goes to find her crying in the family room. Hazel tells him what that Jackson is permanently paralysed from the shoulders down and will not walk again. Aaron then tells Jackson that he will not walk again as Jackson's mother, Hazel, cannot do it.

Jackson blames Aaron for the crash and they break up. Aaron then refuses to see Jackson, even when Hazel asks him to. Hazel keeps on asking Aaron to see Jackson, telling him that Jackson only said those things as he was upset. Still Aaron refuses to see him. After an emotional exchange Hazel  reveals that the real reason Jackson finished with him was because he knew Aaron was too immature to cope with what had happened and was giving Aaron a way out. Angry, Aaron goes to Bar West and meets a guy named Nick. After a brief conversation, Nick offers to move somewhere else to make a night of it. Aaron hesitantly agrees, but leaves while Nick is distracted by his friends. He visits Jackson, who has mixed emotions about seeing him. Jackson pushes Aaron away and Aaron realizes that nothing else was getting through to him, tells Jackson about him and Nick, which causes Jackson to get agitated. Aaron then explained that he couldn’t go through with it because all he could think about was Jackson, which left Jackson near speechless. Aaron then says that it was them against life and that he would never let him down again and the two get back together.

Aaron helps Hazel prepare for Jackson's moving in Dale Head. They’re gutted, however, when they’re told Jackson will have to stay overnight due to high blood pressure. Aaron, not wanting Jackson to spend the night alone, visits the hospital well after visiting hours and watches a movie with him. Aaron then helps Jackson and Hazel move into Dale Head. Aaron focuses his whole life into caring for Jackson and Paddy tells him he can have a life while also caring for Jackson. Jackson encourages Aaron to go out and enjoy himself. One night Aaron goes out with Adam and meets Flynn Buchanan, who clearly feels attracted to him. They continue to see each other and Aaron feels like he is cheating on Jackson. Following a heart-to-heart with Chas, Aaron builds up the courage to tell Jackson about Flynn. Jackson tells him that he should call Flynn, before making it clear that as far as he's concerned, their relationship is over -- they can only ever be friends. Aaron tells Flynn he's single and they go on a few dates. Aaron tells Flynn about Jackson and that he cannot forget about him. Aaron then tells Jackson that he loves him and they get back together. Aaron tells Jackson that he's talking to his camera too often and should be confiding in him instead. Aaron then watches Jackson's video diary and is shocked to hear Jackson admit that he wants to die, he tells Hazel who is fuming he betrayed Jackson's privacy. Aaron urges her to watch it and she does and they try to work out how to help Jackson. Aaron confesses to Jackson that both he and Hazel have watched his video diary. Aaron and Hazel then become determined to show Jackson that he has a life worth living. Jackson is admitted to hospital with a chest infection and it strengthens his resolve to end his life. Jackson, Aaron and Hazel go to Whitby and Aaron books Jackson on a tandem skydive. Aaron thinks Jackson has changed his mind about dying, but he has not. Aaron is shocked to learn that Jackson has managed to convince Hazel to help him end his life. Jackson later promises Aaron that nothing is going to happen until Aaron is ready. Jackson breaks up with Aaron to make the process easier and Aaron agrees to help Jackson end his life. Jackson tells his mother and Aaron how grateful he is for their support and when Hazel cannot give Jackson the pills, Aaron takes the cup and gives it to Jackson. Jackson then dies and Aaron runs through the village. He then tells Adam that Jackson is dead and what he did. Hazel phones the police as planned and Aaron leaves wanting space. Hazel is arrested and Ches and Paddy look for Aaron. Aaron goes to Tug Gyll, looking for Cain. Cain tells him about what he could do and their possible outcomes. Cain then accompanies Aaron to the police station as Aaron tells the police what happened. The police investigate Jackson's death and arrest Aaron for murder. Aaron is forced to miss the funeral as he is due in court. He is released on bail and he goes to Jackson's grave to say goodbye. At his trial, Aaron is found not guilty of murder. However, Aaron blames himself for Jackson's death and he starts lashing out at people. Aaron goes to Jackson's grave takes his frustration out on the flowers thus trashing the grave. He moves in with Chas in the Woolpack as Paddy and Rhona start preparing the house for baby Leo's birth. Hazel offers him a place to stay but Aaron is still very bitter and throws it back in her face. Diane has worries about Aaron moving in and demands Aaron to get out as Aaron is at the centre of drama at the bar when he fronts up to Carl threateningly. As Chas worries over her son's future, Aaron's erratic behaviour continues to escalate. Aaron breaks into Carl's house with the intention of getting arrested, but Carl does not press charges.

Chas tries to talk to Aaron but Aaron tries to leave as Chas gets in the car with him. Aaron is angry and begins to drive recklessly. As he gets more emotional, Chas grabs the hand brake. Aaron loses control of the vehicle and the car swerves off the road into a ditch. Chas bleeds from the head as Cain rushes to the scene. Chas is fine but Cain angrily threatens Aaron. Chas and Aaron argue and Aaron says he wants to give up on life.Chas telling Aaron to get over himself and smashing cars and hurting other people won't make him feel any better. Aaron apologises to his mum but struggles to regain control over his life. Consumed with guilt, Aaron starts self-harming. When Sean Spencer steals money from the garage, Aaron chases him and collapses. He recovers and Chas tries to get him to open up to her about his problems. After having another fight with Hazel, Aaron goes to his room to cut himself. Chas follows and is shocked to discover he is self harming. Chas tells Paddy, who talks to Aaron however. Aaron refuses to stop self-harming and Chas is terrified by his controlled manner. Chas resorts to desperate measures and threatens to harm herself with a knife. She clings to Aaron when he takes a knife off her and Aaron promises to stop hurting himself. She books him to the GP to try and help him. Aaron is chuffed when Paddy asks him to be godfather to Leo. Aaron apologises to Hazel for being mean to her and feels guilty at how scared she is of him. Hazel wonders what is wrong with Aaron and is upset when he tells her about his self harming. Aaron starts visiting a counsellor following encouragement from Hazel and Chas. Teenager Sean starts causing trouble at the garage. Aaron loses his patience when Sean pays a second visit, so he grabs him to get him out of the way. Sean stumbles and falls, cutting his head before leaving. Aaron is concerned however Sean runs away. Sean's mother Ali questions Aaron about the injury but calms when she realises that Sean's been hanging round the garage and apologises, heading home. Sean starts to trash the Dingle's vehicle. Aaron offers to have a word with Sean, and Zak's proud when Aaron manages to get Sean to leave the van calmly. Aaron then leaves the village for a month after being specially chosen to take a mechanics course in Birginham, causing Chas to be proud.

Aaron returns on the 14th December after Cain is brutally hurt. Aaron argues with John Barton on his return, blaiming him for Cain's injuries. Afterwards, Aaron goes to the hospital to be with Cain. Aaron sleeps by Cain's bedside and is there when Cain wakes up, calling for the nurses. Wanting revenge, Aaron tries to encourage Cain to get better so they can sort out whoever did this to him. Zak tells Aaron to stop winding him up and Aaron tells him they finally can make things up. Zak refuses though and says nothing has changed, confusing Aaron. Aaron and Chas are by the bedside when Charity enters, wanting to discuss things with Cain. Cain then tells them that Jai was the one who did this to him, infuriating Charity who lunges at Cain, only to be held back by Aaron. The police then come in and chuck them out, wanting to speak with Cain. Aaron starts to constantly visit Cain and is happy when Cain is released. Aaron insists on caring for Cain, worrying Chas who does not want Aaron to become like Cain. Debbie encourages Aaron to visit Hazel and he reluctantly does so, annoying Chas as he was supposed to be visiting his counsellor. When Charity admits she left Cain for dead, Aaron has to hold back Chas from attacking her. He, Chas and Debbie then disown Charity following the revelation and follow Cain back into the house.

In 2012, Aaron celebrates his 20th birthday with Chas and Hazel in the pub however he wants to avenge Cain's attack. He goes up to Jai's house and throws a brick through Jai's window, demanding Jai to come out. Zak has to restrain Aaron and Aaron breaks down, wondering why all the people he cares about end up hurt and Zak tells Aaron he'll sort it out. Chas thinks she has got through to Aaron, however he still seems hell bent on revenge. Chas doesn't know what else to do and asks Zak to talk some sense into Aaron. Zak tells Aaron he was Cain's attacker, disgusting Aaron. Aaron then comes around as he realises how out of control Cain had become and how desperate Zak was.

Aaron and Adam become friends again however their relationship becomes strained when Chas and Adam's father John start seeing each other. Adam wants his parents to reunite and calls Chas a whore, angering Aaron. The two then fight and have to be split up. John dumps Chas when he realises he wants Moira and they go out on a holiday to try and patch things up however they end up crashing. Aaron supports Adam when John dies. Aaron meets Ed Roberts when he brings a minibus to the garage to be fixed. However, when Aaron becomes involved in an argument with Adam, Ed leaves. He later returns with his rugby team mates and Aaron fixes the minibus, but Ed drives off without paying the bill. Ed later returns to pay Aaron and when he brings his car to the garage for Aaron to look, he gives him his phone number. Aaron arranges to go for a drink with Ed, but he cancels to help Adam fix a roof. Ed turns up with two of his teammates to help out. Ed initially mistakes Aaron and Adam's friendship for something more, but Aaron corrects him and they kiss. They go on their first date to Bar West, but Ed leaves early when he finds out about Jackson. Aaron becomes angry with Ed and deletes his phone number. Ed comes to visit Aaron and he apologises. Aaron reveals his scars from self harming to Ed and they spend the night together. Ed tells Aaron that he has been signed for a French rugby club and is leaving for France in four weeks. He asks Aaron to come with him, but he turns him down. Aaron spots a fire in the garage and helps Adam save Cain, who had become trapped. Aaron then learns Adam deliberately started the fire and not wanting his friend to be sent to prison, Aaron tells the police that he was responsible for the fire. He is released on bail, but on the day of his court hearing, Aaron goes to France with Ed.

2014 - 2015: Return to Emmerdale and relationship with Robert
Aaron returns to England in August 2014 to help his best friend Adam, who is involved in a robbery with Ross Barton and Donna Windsor.

In order to be able to stay in England Aaron hands himself in to the police and confesses to giving false evidence regarding the garage fire in 2012. He gets a suspended sentence and returns to the village officially. On his return celebration in the Woolpack he meets Finn Barton and they have a one night stand.

He is later asked by Charity Dingle to start a chop shop with Ross Barton, and reluctantly agrees; however, when Robert Sugden later tracks his car down after Ross had stolen it, Aaron and Ross are roped into faking a robbery at Home Farm so that Robert can act the hero and get praise from Lawrence White, the disapproving father to his fiancee, Chrissie White. Aaron and Ross complete the deed, undetected.

After Chrissie finds out about Ross' colourful history with the police he leaves town for a few days, in fear that he will be charged for the illegal car dealings and that the fake robbery will be exposed.

On the 26th of November, Robert pokes fun at Aaron, suggesting that he has been "checking out" fiancee Chrissie. Aaron tells him that he is gay. On the 4th of December, Robert calls him exclaiming that his car has broken down and he needs assistance - this is a ploy in order to get Aaron alone. Though Robert is reluctant to act on his true intentions, and somewhat surprised by Aaron (who is angry because he believes that Robert is simply time-wasting) he seizes the moment and they passionately kiss. Robert later admits that the kiss was a mistake and returns home to have sex with Chrissie, leaving Aaron with conflicting feelings.

When Aaron and best friend Adam Barton decide that they want to start up a taxi service, Robert invests £10,000 in the business - this acts as a cover for the newly-formed affair he is having with Aaron. The two begin meeting in barns, hotels and anywhere else they can get away with, including the garage and Dianne's apartment.

After the taxi service falls through when Adam finds out that you can't have a permit if you have a criminal record, the boys re-think and decide to invest their time and money in a scrap-yard operation.

Following a fall-out between Aaron and Robert, Katie Sugden sees a text sent from Robert's phone that says "Kiss and make up?", which has been sent to a contact only labeled "A". She becomes suspicious of Robert's motives, and this suspicion grows and strengthens until her eventual death.

Robert books a hotel room out of town for himself and Aaron, but when Katie (accompanied reluctantly by Chrissie) blows his cover by spotting his car in the hotel's parking lot, Aaron is forced to return home. Distraught, he confides in father-figure Paddy Kirk, explaining that he is in love with an anonymous married man. He decides that he only has two options: live with the fact that Robert won't leave Chrissie, or blow the affair.

When Aaron takes charge of the situation and doesn't show at the barn when Robert asks him to, Robert tells Aaron that the entire affair meant nothing to him. Both heartbroken and furious, Aaron - who is aware of her suspicions - informs Katie that she is right about Robert having an affair, and that he can prove it.

On the day of Robert's wedding, he and Aaron meet at Wiley's farm for one last fling. Pleading Robert not to get married, Aaron admits that he is in love with him and that he doesn't want to see Robert marry Chrissie when they both know he doesn't love her. However, Aaron has set up the visit and, just as the two go in to kiss, Katie (who received a text from Aaron informing her their location) walks into the room and takes a photo using her mobile phone. Unable to cope with the intense conflict that instantly arises, Aaron exits, leaving Robert and Katie alone at Wiley's. When he is called back to the farm by an emotional Robert, Aaron is horrified to learn that Katie is dead - he is unaware that it is Robert's fault, and Robert, knowing he can use this to his advantage, exclaims that it was an accident technically caused by Aaron, because it was Aaron who told Katie to go to Wiley's in the first place. Believing him and blaming himself, Aaron offers to wipe down the barn of any evidence that he and Robert had been there while Robert goes to the church to get married.

Distraught, heartbroken and sick with guilt, Aaron struggles to cope with his feelings. At Robert and Chrissie's reception, Aaron smashes a beer glass and squeezes a shard in his palm, causing a cut that he periodically applies pressure to when he feels the need to hurt himself.

After Paddy figures it out, Aaron reveals to Chas and Paddy that Robert is his mystery man. Horrified that the deceased Katie was right, Chas scorns Aaron but tells him that he deserves better. She later confronts Robert about the affair, telling him to end their relationship, to which he agrees.

Sickened by guilt, Aaron tells Chas that he won't be attending Katie's funeral. He does, however, but not without difficulty. Before the ceremony, Aaron pulls Robert aside and warns him that he's going to blow everything, admitting the affair and telling everyone that they were the last people to see Katie before she died. During the service, Aaron tearfully rises from his seat, but leaves before admitting anything.

He begins to take up intense work-out sessions, mainly running, to over-exert himself as an attempt to keep the self-harm subliminal.

When he and Robert prevent Andy Sugden's suicide attempt at the Quarry, Aaron experiences a tense moment where he seems to contemplate jumping into the quarry himself, but he tearfully resists. He later tells Robert that their affair is over for good this time, and when Robert says, "And you're not going to be texting me the minute I'm out that door, saying you made a mistake?" Aaron sternly replies, "You won't be hearing from me. Not any more."

In July 2015, Aaron won the Lawrence White Business Enterprise Awards for Holey Scrap. Aaron resumes his affair with Robert, but later finds out that Robert tried to kill Paddy, who was helping Andy out at the farm and the grain machine turned on, nearly burying Paddy alive. Aaron confronts Robert, which leads to Robert admitting the full truth to Aaron about what happened to Katie on the day she died. Aaron punches Robert, who then knocks Aaron unconscious. Aaron is then held hostage. Paddy attempts to save Aaron, who is being held at gunpoint by Robert, but is accidentally shot by Robert who is struggling to end Aaron's life. Eventually, Robert lets Aaron and Paddy go, as the two promise not to say anything about Robert holding them hostage. However, as a final act of revenge Aaron turn up at Home Farm hours later exposing their affair to a stunned Chrissie who eventually believes him after he divulges into details about where they went and by telling her he knew where she was as well. Aaron is seen to attend the stag do of Pete Barton in August 2015. As he attends the wedding of Pete and his cousin, Debbie Dingle, Aaron witnesses a confession recorded, revealing that Debbie had an affair with Pete's brother, Ross. As a helicopter comes tumbling through the Village Hall, Aaron, along with all the other wedding guests are put at risk as the roof collapses on top of everyone. Aaron survives and helps save other victims, but the deaths of Val Pollard and Ruby Haswell shock the village.

In September 2015, after discovering Wylie's Farm has been sold, Aaron began to mend his friendship with Andy Sugden by offering to help him sort Katie's belongings. While doing so, Andy found Katie's final phone bill and was curious to find a mysterious number as her final caller on the day she died. Unbeknownst to him, the number was Aaron's, who then turned off his phone when Andy tried to ring the number, fearing Andy could learn the truth about her death. He then bought a new phone, and after a run-in with Robert when Aaron and Andy were in a bar, he left the village to stay with a friend for a few weeks. In that time, Andy discovered that the number was in fact Aaron's.

Aaron returned later that month when Andy questioned him why he hadn't revealed to be the mysterious caller. Panicked, Aaron lies to him that Katie had phoned him about changing her car so she could get some money to start a new life away from Andy, but Andy doesn't believe him. Suspicious, Andy confides in Robert that he thinks Aaron is lying. At the same time, knowing something is going on, Chas demands Aaron and Paddy tell her what's going on. After trying to make sense of things with Robert, Andy figures out that Aaron must of been lying, but deducts that he wouldn't of killed her. After questioning Robert more, Andy managed to get Robert to admit to pushing Katie to her death, leaving out Aaron's involvement completely. Elsewhere, Aaron ends up admitting to Chas that Robert killed Katie and the he covered it up, telling her that Robert is a psychopath and he covered it up because he loved him.

Robert is later arrested by the police, but released soon after. He turns up at the scrapyard to see Aaron and tells him he left him out of it and that they're off the hook. Angry, Aaron calls him a pathetic coward. Robert then goes on to insult him horribly, telling him he should of never been with him and that they are more alike than he thinks because he "murdered" Jackson. Aaron is seething and tells Robert he'll never talk to him like that again.

When Andy confronts Robert again, he asks Aaron to tell him the truth about Katie, knowing he is the only one who can show Robert's guilt. Chas however steps in and confirms Aaron's story that Katie was leaving him, leading Andy to storm off in anger.

Later that night, Robert was shot by a then unknown shooter. Aaron appeared on the scene not long after Robert was shot where he helped limit the bleeding from Robert's wound.

In the following weeks, Aaron began acting suspicious as he hid the gun. He visited a comatose Robert in hospital where he told him to hurry up and die, and later suggested to his sister Victoria that Robert deserved what'd happened to him. While Adam and Victoria were filming a video for Adam's son Johnny, they accidentally caught Aaron concealing the gun in a car at the scrapyard, although they weren't aware at the time. When editing the video, Adam discovered what his friend did and confronted him about it. Aaron admitted to having the gun and hiding it to protect his mother when he believed she was guilty. Stuck, Adam agreed to help get rid of the gun and deleted the incriminating video. At the same time however, Victoria uploaded the video without knowing what it contained to the Internet, where it was later seen by Priya Sharma and Rakesh Kotecha. Rakesh reported it to the police, and after discovering the gun at the yard, Aaron was arrested at the pub. He was then charged with possession of a fire arm and attempted murder, and having a suspended sentence, was then immediately remanded in custody.

While in prison, he was visited both by his mother and Cain at different times. Aaron explained to Chas the truth behind the gun, revealing he hid it to protect her. When Cain visited him, Aaron had lost hope and began speaking about Jackson Walsh and how he'd found a way out, suggesting to Cain that he maybe suicidal. Worried, Cain came up with a plan to kill Robert and frame Chrissie to free Aaron, but the plan was thwarted by Zak Dingle who reasoned that it wouldn't help Aaron.

In a Rewind episode of the nights events, it was revealed that Aaron had spoken to his mum Chas about Robert, telling her that he can't trust himself to be around Robert because despite all he's done, he still loves him. Chas is worried as Aaron walks off, fearing what he'll do. After seeing Robert with Lawrence, Aaron went to the garage. Later on when he was leaving, he heard the gunshot and dropped a crowbar as he ran to inspect the shot. In doing so, he alerted the actual shooter Ross Barton to his presence who then quickly hid, but in his haste dropped the gun. As Aaron approached the scene, he discovered the gun, and upon seeing Robert being shot and Chas close by, he presumed she had shot Robert and so took the gun to conceal it to protect her.

Aaron didn't appear again until his plea hearing in November 2015 where he pleaded not guilty to shooting Robert. Frustrated as he had been led to believe Aaron was guilty, Robert goads Aaron in court to tell the truth, but it goes wrong when Aaron tells him he should have done everyone a favour and stayed dead. After discovering Andy's involvement in his shooting, Robert made a false statement to the police about the shooter to get Aaron released. After returning to the village the following day with all charges dropped, he met with Robert and accused him of trying to mess with his head again, before saying he hates him and nothing will ever change that, leaving Robert upset.

2016 to present: Sexual abuse
In January 2016, after the return of his father, Gordon, Aaron contemplates self-harm again by almost burning his arm on some birthday candles, but Cain catches him.

Aaron admits that he has found it hard to accept his father's return which is why it resulted into him hurting himself again. At this point he also finds out about Paddy's affair with Leo's teacher Tess Harris.

It all gets too much for Aaron a few weeks later when he learns that his parents are back together and he considers running away to France, but when attempting to get in a car and drive away, he is stopped by Robert, who takes Aaron to hospital after he collapses. As a result of his self-harm issues, Aaron develops an infection on one of his wounds and remains in hospital. Before he is taken into care by a nurse, he whispers something to Robert. Later Robert questions why Aaron is self-harming again. When he sees the scars on Aaron, he tells Aaron what he whispered to him earlier, Aaron pleads with him to leave it. He refuses to give the real reason as to what his father has done to upset him. Aaron discharges himself from hospital. Chas, Paddy, and others are worried when Doug mentions Aaron's absence. Robert tells Chas that they spent the night together then leaves.

Robert finds Aaron hiding at Debbie's house and tries to get him to speak about what's troubling him. Aaron suddenly breaks down in tears and admits to Robert that Gordon raped him when he was a child.

After Robert confronts Gordon about the rape, Aaron is horrified to hear that Robert is doubting what he says about what happened to him in the past, as Robert thinks Aaron may have been affected by false memory syndrome. Aaron is discharged from hospital and confronts his father about his twisted lies. Gordon later leaves.

In February 2016, as the for sale sign is being removed form the Woolpack, Aaron gets suspicious and believes Gordon has bought the pub, however Chas has secured a loan to allow her to buy out Diane. Aaron accuses Chas of seeing Gordon again behind his back. Chas had enough of Aaron's behaviour and tells him he needs to move out. The next day, after Robert tells Chas that instead of throwing out her son, she needs to speak to him, Cain also reveals he caught Aaron trying to harm himself with his birthday candles. Cain thinks that Robert knows something else. When Chas pays Robert a visit, Robert tells Chas that his self-harming caused his septicaemia, but nearly lets slip about the secret Aaron had told him. After spending the day with his mother at the seaside, Aaron breaks down as he tells Chas about his rape ordeal. Chas tells Aaron she will make it better by confronting Gordon about what he did. When she returns, Chas tells Aaron that Gordon admitted to abusing Aaron. Chas tells Cain, who goes to Gordon's home to exact revenge. When Aaron learns where Cain has gone, he stops Cain from killing Gordon and tells him that he wants to call the police. Whilst giving his statement to the police, Cain, at Aaron's request is telling the rest of the Dingles, Paddy and Adam of what Gordon has done to Aaron. Gordon is brought in for questioning and maintains that he is innocent and that Aaron is lying. Gordon also informs the police that Cain tried to make him take his own life. Gordon turns up at the scrapyard to try and bully Aaron into retracting his statement by telling him that he told the police about what Cain did to him. Aaron tells Chas that he can't see this through and is contemplating leaving again. Chas convinces Aaron to take some time away from the village to get his head straight.

When Aaron returns, he learns that Chas vandalised Gordon's car by painting "Paedo" on it. A furious Aaron demands Chas to tell everybody in the pub that Gordon is innocent or he will walk away. Chas blurts out what happened to Aaron to the whole pub which left Aaron upset that his secret is out. Robert helps Aaron out by tracking down his stepmother Sandra Livesy, who has changed her surname to Flaherty. After an unusual re-introduction to his half-sister Liv Flaherty (where she steals Aaron's wallet), Aaron pleads for Sandra's help, but she is adamant that she didn't know anything, until she slips up that she changed her name to keep Liv safe. Aaron works out that she knew everything and gets angry with Sandra. Tearfully he tells Liv what kind of person their dad is and returns to the Woolpack with Robert, where he despairs that all is lost. After Chas criticises Cain for not showing support, he pays Aaron a visit and says he loves him and wants justice against Gordon but not for Aaron to suffer any more because of it, so he should drop the case, as he was about to do that, Aaron learns a male victim has come forward to say Gordon abused them. Later unbeknownst to Aaron, it's revealed that Robert paid Gordon's neighbour Ryan to lie to the police to get Gordon charged. Gordon accuses Chas for paying Ryan to lie to the police, not knowing it was Robert. After the police escort Gordon away, Robert admits to Chas, that he was the person who paid Ryan. Aaron returns having found out about Gordon paying a visit. Chas tells him she just called the police on Gordon. The police return the next day to inform Aaron that because of Ryan's statement, they are pressing charges against Gordon. The next day, Aaron spoting Robert with Ryan, Aaron blamed himself for what happened to Ryan. However, Chas confesses to Aaron, Robert paid Ryan to lie that left Aaron upset and furious at Robert. Aaron broke down and says if his case falls apart, he will blamed it on him. The next day, Aaron visits Ryan and convinces him to retract his statement, Ryan agrees. Then Aaron visting Gordon who told Aaron that he's blown the case, insisting that he'll inform the police about his lying before close the door on him. Aaron returns and found out the police charges Gordon with his statement only. Aaron told Robert, they should be friends.

Nearly two weeks later, Aaron went out on his own, walks into his car and finds "Liar" scratched onto his car, he is unaware he is watched. The next day, Aaron went to Gordon's plea hearing with Chas, Lisa, Belle and Robert on his side. Gordon pretends to be ill and he collapse with Aaron, Robert, Lisa, Belle and Chas witnessing in horror. DS Wise told Chas and Aaron, Gordon had an alibi on the night Aaron's car was scratched. Later, Robert meet Aaron in the bridge when trying to support him as he telling him he is stronger and he can beat Gordon. Robert hugs Aaron, unaware Liv (the person who scratched Aaron's car) watching them. The next day, Liv arrived at the village and accused Aaron of making up about their dad abusing him. Aaron trying to explain to Liv what Gordon did to him but Liv refused to believe him. Liv went though Chas' phone to found Gordon's address. Liv went to see her father after 7 years, Aaron and Chas discovers Liv is going to see Gordon. Aaron and Zak drive to Gordon's house where Liv asks Gordon about abusing Aaron. Aaron and Zak arrived at Gordon's house where Liv run into Aaron and apologized to Aaron, unaware she believe her dad over her brother. When they return, Chas has managed to convince Sandra to give a statement to the police.

Liv stays with Aaron for a while. Aaron catches Liv throws fruit at David Metcalfe and Jacob Gallagher. Robert tells Aaron that Liv has been questioning him about Ryan. Aaron puts it down to curiosity and he brings up that Robert paid Ryan to lie. Unknown to them both, Liv records their conversation. The next day, Aaron left furious when learns Liv had been spying on him for Gordon. Aaron told Liv to leave and then Aaron went to see Gordon where he confronts him about Liv. Aaron fight back when tells Gordon, he gets ready for court before walks off home. Aaron tells Robert that Liv recorded them talking about Ryan. He also tells Robert that he does not want him to go to prison for trying to help him.

A week later, Aaron come face to face with Gordon in court.

Quotes
"Sorry Lee, you know how it is, places to go, people to see" - Danny Miller's first line as Aaron

"What? Today? This week? Since last time you bother to see me" - To Chas Dingle when meeting her at the police station.

"You got to be kidding me" - To Adam Barton when stopping Adam rams over Stephen Banks and first line when returning after 2 years.

Trivia

 * Aaron's birthday was originally thought to be 8th March 1993.