Minty first appears as the unsympathetic landlord of Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman). Laura asks Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to speak to Minty about his frequent demands for rent but the two turn out to be old friends. When Phil is arrested for armed robbery, he asks Minty to look after his sister, Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf). Minty falls in love with Sam but is unable to stop her relationship with Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs),
who really wants control of Sam's assets. When Phil escapes from
prison, the police arrest Minty, wrongly believing that he is Phil.
Minty tries on several occasions to stop Sam marrying Andy, even
proposing himself, but she marries Andy regardless. Minty moves into a
flat with fellow mechanic Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves)
after saving him from a suicide attempt. They became good friends,
however, problems develop in 2006, when Minty falls for Australian
stripper SJ Fletcher (Natasha Beaumont).
SJ has a plan to con Minty out of his money, but Garry discovers her
schemes and exposes her to Minty. She flees the next day, leaving Minty
devastated.