PC Gabriel/David Kent

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PC Gabriel/David Kent was a fictional character in ITV1's police drama, The Bill, played by Todd Carty.

[edit] Life in Sun Hill

Gabriel first arrived in April 2003 as a happy, friendly, enthusiastic police constable. In soon became clear to viewers that there was more to the character than met the eye. He started a relationship with older woman, Sergeant June Ackland, but later he cruely dumped her after revealing he was the son she gave up for adoption at 15 years old. He later admitted that he was David Kent, and that June's son, the real Gabriel, was adopted by his parents, who rejected him for the child they had adopted, and when Gabriel decided to search for his real mother, an argument led to his parents dying in a car crash. David had always blamed his adoptive brother and his real mother for their deaths, and that's why he hurt June the way he did.

June, who was scared, kept quiet, whereas PC Kent (still going by the name he woke up (all he could remember was Marie attacking him with a bottle in her hand, and hadn't seen Gabriel come in). of Gabriel), wreaked havoc: he forced fellow officer, Ruby, to lie in court against a defendant, resulting in her being ashamed and quitting the force shortly after; when his colleague, Jim Carver, was being attacked by his alcoholic, abusive wife, Marie, it was Kent who picked up a bottle and whacked Jim around the head with it, causing unconsciousness, rather than helping him. Gabriel blamed it all on Marie, and Jim also believed this when The deluded copper reached worse climbs: PC Kerry Young confided in him that she slept with Sergeant Dale Smith, but couldn't remember anything, and Gabriel told her that maybe he drug-raped her. Kerry took this in and accused Smithy of rape. After this, Gabriel raped her, and when she cried rape, nobody believed her a second time, and she realised that this was his whole plan. She found out some incriminating evidence against him, and she decided to tell their boss, Inspector Gina Gold, everything, as this was her last chance of remaining in her job as she was facing the sack for continuous booze sessions (in a bid to wipe out what Gabriel did) and refusing to end her relationship with dangerous gangster, David Radford (which later ended when he found out she was a police officer). Kerry had begged Smithy for his forgiveness and they grew a strong and close relationship. He was the only one who believed her about PC Kent raping her. By this time a serial sniper killer was on the loose in Sun Hill, and PC Kent, who owned a sniper, shot Kerry from the top of a nearby building as she was about to walk into the station to tell everything. Just moments later, she died in Smithy's arms, and her last words were 'I love you, Smithy'. The station thought that Kerry was just another victim of the serial sniper.

Smithy was initially distraught, but put on a brave face and was determined to unvail Gabriel as a rapist.

It also appeared that Gabriel knew who the sniper was, and after confronting him, he walked backwards and fell off his balcony.

Certain people grew to realise that Gabriel was not all he seemed, but couldn't put their finger on it since they had no evidence. PC Andrea Dunbar (who was actually an undercover journalist, who originally wanted to publish all of the bad cases and rubbish policing at Sun Hill) became curious about Gabriel, and delved into his past. She discovered that he was really David Kent, and had stolen his adoptive brother's identity. She was eventually exposed as an undercover journalist, and realised that her dossier on PC Kent was her last chance. She confronted Gabriel, and he admitted it all, and then a van crashed into the front of the station, causing a major explosion. Andrea became trapped in rubble, and rather than answer her pleas, Gabriel left her to burn to death.

He then saved Smithy's life in the fire, which made everyone believe he was a hero and a martyr. Smithy by now had thought him to be June's son (after discovering his birth certificate (which in reality belonged to the real Gabriel Kent) which stated June Ackland as the mother).

Throughout his police career he constantly berated suspects, attacked troublesome youths, and scared and beat up people familiar to the police.

[edit] Downfall

He began a relationship with fellow officer, Sergeant Sheelagh Murphy, much to Smithy's sadness. They became engaged, and, in The Bill's second live episode in September 2005, the real Gabriel Kent turned up at the station searching for his mother, June Ackland, and was shocked to find David there. The real Gabriel realised what David was up to, but was accidentally shot by a deluded man holding some officers hostage in the station and he fell over the banister, and lay unconscious. PC Kent ran over to him and quickly stole his identity cards while pretending to see of he was OK.

As he lay in a coma, he was identified as Gabriel Kent, much to the confusuion of Smithy. His fiancée, Sheelagh, found the real Gabriel's identity cards that David had taken at the shooting, and David tied her up went he caught her red-handed. She was soon rescued by fellow officers, who were then informed by Sheelagh that her fiancé was really named David Kent, and was the real Gabriel's imposter. At this point, David had sneaked in to the hospital where his adoptive brother was lying, pulled off his air supply and attempted to suffocate him with a pillow.

He quickly ran out, and, realising the game was up, he tied June to a rail at the top of a high, multi-storey building. Smithy crept up behind him as he confessed absolutely everything, including how he raped and murdered Kerry, left Andrea to die, knew who the sniper really was, and said that it all stemmed from his childhood, being rejected by his parents in favour for June's son, and that he had been booted out of the Navy. He admitted that the real Gabriel was once in the police force, and had a successful career and life, and a jealous David stole his identity so he could be a copper and make something good out of his life. Smithy jumped on him and a fight ensued. With police cars at the botton of the building, David knew his time was up, and thought suicide was the only option, so he got up on top of the bar on the railings, turned down to June and said: "You've wrecked my life, June", and then jumped off the building to his death.

June was then informed that her son had survived the murder attempt by David.