Sharon Welles
Sharon arrived in Summer Bay, wanting to reconnect with her daughter, Justine. She’d heard about her looming trial from a journalist and thought it best to support her daughter through her struggle. Although Justine was hesitant, once Sharon explained she had given up heroin after her boyfriend Tony overdosed, and had been on methadone for two months, Justine decided to give her a second chance.
However, Sharon became aggressive when a nurse at the Northern Districts Hospital wouldn’t fill her methadone prescription. Her inability to get methadone leads Sharon to try and find a hit in Summer Bay. Meanwhile, it became clear her intentions weren’t genuine when she met up with Jeff Berger, a dodgy journalist. She explained that if he had money for her, she believed she could get Justine to confess to Ruby’s manslaughter. Sharon pushed for $7000, and was promised it should she get a confession on tape.
Sharon organised a dinner for her and Justine, and there began a conversation about Ruby’s death. She was able to get a recording of Justine that, out of context, sounded as if she killed Ruby. She took it to the journalist who paid her the money she wanted. The following week, she was served a subpoena to appear in court by Justine’s prosecution. She quietly left town, but Justine glimpsed her leaving, and was upset by her mother not saying anything.
Justine was shocked when Sharon turned out to be a witness for the prosecution. She testified that Justine had confessed, but when cross-examined, divulged the truth about the conversation. She was discredited as a witness and left in disgrace.
The week after Justine was exonerated, Sharon returned to Summer Bay to seek forgiveness. Justine was furious upon seeing her again. While Natalie calmed Justine, Joel spoke to Sharon, who promised she was clean. However, Joel lifted her sleeve and saw track marks. Natalie returned and explained Justine was very upset and both she and Joel believed it best if she left and never contacted Justine again.
The next day, Sharon approached Justine on her walk to school. Although she begged, Justine refused to give her mother another chance. Ashamed, Sharon returned to the life she had claimed to leave behind.