The hope for months has been that Emmerdale’s Tom King (James Chase) will finally

get comeuppance for his abhorrent abuse of Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and

the time is here! It comes in a deadly moment that is caused by his own anger management

issues. Things are at their worst for Belle, having learned she’s pregnant with his baby, Tom ramped up his control of her – with everything from her food to whether or not she could leave the house, to controlling what she does with her body. Belle knew deep down she did not want this baby, but Tom tried to see to it that she had no choice – over anything. But Belle bravely put herself first and made a secret and dangerous trip to the abortion clinic, in the hopes that she could cover her story by telling her husband she’s had a miscarriage.

This is where Tom’s deadly rage comes in – he learns the truth about the abortion and all hell breaks loose. Prior to that, Belle confesses to her Mental Health Coordinator Rachel that she lied to Tom about having a miscarriage. She knows she’s cluing Rachel into the truth of Tom’s behaviour and immediately makes to leave for fearing saying too much, but it dawns on her that the reality of her situation is that her husband is, in fact, an abuser. This hits home hard for Belle, and Rachel encourages her to take a break from him.

It gives her food for thought, but while she’s contemplating her next steps, Noah (Jack Downham) is doing the damage that will leave Tom for dead. It’s a simple comment – that he saw Belle in town. But it tells Tom that Belle has lied – she was meant to be walking Piper. This tips Tom off as he realises that she had an appointment at the abortion clinic. The rage rises and he takes a metal bar and smashes everything within his reach in the barn that he’s in. As his anger crescendos and he prepares himself to deal a final blow, he raises the metal bar above his head, and boom – it connects with the rotary isolator. A violent electric shock is sent through his enraged body and he is flung into a wooden beam. He’s lying there dying while Belle is packing her case, a taxi waiting, and ready for a trip to see Debbie in Scotland. Is this how Belle escapes her abusive husband?