Leo Johnson is a character in Channel 4

Channel 4

Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...

 television soap opera Brookside

Brookside

Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...

. He was played by Leeon Sawyer when the character arrived on the Close in March 1990 until September 1996. Then, Steven Cole

Steven Cole

Steven Cole is a British actor best known for his portrayal of Leo Johnson in the Channel 4 Soap opera Brookside from 1996 to 2001.He has also appeared in Doctors for the BBC...

 took over the role from December 1996 where his character stayed until his departure in April 2001.

The Johnsons

The Johnsons are first introduced in 1989 when Terry Sullivan

Terry Sullivan (Brookside)

Terry Sullivan is a fictional character in the British Soap opera Brookside, played by Brian Regan. Terry first appeared a few episodes after the series began in 1982, making his debut in episode six. He was the best friend of Barry Grant having grown up with him, and in many ways Barry's mother...

 asks Mick Johnson

Mick Johnson

Michael 'Mick' Johnson is a fictional character in the defunct Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He was portrayed by Louis Emerick from 1989 until 2001.-Storylines:Mick first appears as a friend of Terry Sullivan and they go into partnership as taxi drivers...

 to go into partnership with him in his taxi business. Mick moves in to the Close with son Leo and Daughter Gemma in 1990 lodging with Harry Cross and then later renting their house from Harry when he moves to St Helens

St Helens, Merseyside

St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...

.

For many years the stories revolved around Mick, his brother Ellis and cousin Jerome, while Leo and Gemma only played incidental roles.

Joining the police

In 2000 at the age of 18, Leo decided he wanted to join the police force, as Rod Corkhill had done at that age in 1987. His father Mick was proud of his sons career choice and Leo was accepted and got a place in police college in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

.

Underage sex with Adele Murray

Before leaving for police college Leo attended a party held at the Murray's. Fifteen year old Adele had fancied Leo for some time. After he witnessed his girlfriend flirting with his neighbour Jimmy Corkhill, Leo started to drink heavily and then was seduced by Adele and the two had unprotected sex. Leo regretted having done so immediately and worried that if anyone were to find out it could compromise his career in the police.

Leo started dating Adele for a while then shortly afterwards, he finished with her. When Mick found a letter to Leo from Adele, he questioned his son and that's when he discovered that Leo and Adele had sex. Mick was furious and afterwards, told Leo that he should face up to his responsibilities. After realising however that this could end his career in the police he decided the best thing was for Leo to move to London as soon as possible. Shortly afterwards Leo left.

Adele's pregnancy and termination

Adele decided that she did not wish to continue with the pregnancy and decided to have an abortion. Her catholic stepmother was opposed to this but her father, Marty

Marty Murray (Brookside)

Martin "Marty" Murray is a character from Channel 4 soap Brookside played by Neil Caple from 2000 until 2003.-Introduction:When Lindsey Corkhill sold No.9 the Murray family moved in. The Murrays were billed as an attempt to return to its original form of conventional families rather than the waifs...

 supported this idea. Mick and Marty eneded up fighting in the Close over the issue. When Mick told Leo however Leo was supportive and said he would bring-up the child and support Adele. Despite Leo's promise Adele was determined to go ahead with the abortion and went ahead and had a termination, later leaving the Close to attend the University of Leeds

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...

. Shortly afterwards Mick also left the close for London.