One of Tom King’s (James Chase) consistent and most vulgar ways of controlling wife Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) is using her family against her – and the abuser is at it again in Emmerdale.
Recent scenes – which attracted hundreds of complaints to Ofcom – saw Tom make Piper the dog unwell in order to provoke Belle into coming home from therapy early.
The conniving scheme worked, with Belle leaving her intervention support just as she was on the cusp of a breakthrough in talking about her destructive marriage.
Tom is smug that his plot paid off although it’s clear to us that Belle still has very deep misgivings about the relationship, and certainly hasn’t forgotten about her husband’s behaviour.
Following her return home, Sam and Lydia (James Hooton and Karen Blick) came round to visit, seeking to reach out to Belle.
When talk turned to her therapy sessions and if they helped, Tom quickly ushered Belle upstairs, telling her she needs to shower and get changed.
Is there no way out of this nightmare? (Picture: ITV)
While she was out of the room, Sam admitted that he didn’t know how best to deal with Belle’s mental health struggles, with Lydia obliviously heaping gratitude on Tom for helping her.
In full gaslight mode, Tom requested that they give notice before visiting next time, in order to give Belle fair warning and not overwhelm her.
They readily agreed to this and, after leaving, Belle returned, hoping for them to come back soon.
But, despite being the one to warn them off, Tom told his disappointed wife that they were going to give her space for a few days.
The reality of this for Belle is that she wouldn’t have any supportive faces near her and it would just be her and Tom.
After this, he presented her with a ‘gift’ – a pull organiser so she could remember to take her medication.
Belle made the point that she hadn’t forgotten at any point but he brushed over this, insisting nothing like this should happen again.
With Belle consumed by confusion and despair, he then headed out to go shopping, casually telling her that he was locking her in.
With Tom now tracking her medication, isolating her from her family and even keeping her physically trapped in her home, Belle feels she is back to square one after a temporary escape from her hell.
Can her family start to cotton on to what Tom’s true motives are in keeping them away from Belle?
Or is her ordeal set to continue – and even get worse?
