As Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper)’s life has been gradually turned

into a living hell by her cruel, abusive husband Tom King (James Chase)

in Emmerdale, viewers are clamouring for someone – anyone – to work

out what’s going on and intervene to help Belle. Tom has systematically destroyed Belle’s confidence in her work, her sense of security in her own home, and the control she has over her own mental health and the medication she takes for it.

He’s isolated her from her family and friends, interfering in her friendship with Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) and telling Sam (James Hooton) and Lydia (Karen Blick) to give her space when she came back from the mental health assessment unit.

They’re so convinced by Tom’s outward appearance of being kind and caring towards Belle that they promised to check in with him first before they popped round in future.

Meanwhile Tom’s behaviour towards Belle has been increasingly cruel and on several occasions has escalated into violence.

He punched her hard in the stomach recently during an argument. Following this, Lydia sensed that something was amiss as Belle wasn’t replying to her texts. Lydia dispatched Cain (Jeff Hordley) to check on Belle to make sure she was OK.

He did so, but Tom was also there and Belle managed to hide that anything was wrong and Cain was satisfied. Tom had once again manipulated his wife into hiding any hint that there was a problem.

In upcoming episodes he may have gone too far, though, as his actions finally provoke an angry response from Cain.

Tom sells Belle’s car, presumably spinning a story that they don’t need two cars in the family but it’s yet another method of controlling her and limiting her independence. It’s this action that angers Cain, who gives Tom a lecture about selling the car without consulting him first.

Cain delivers quite a rant at Tom – who is affronted to be called out like that. He accuses Belle of mouthing off about the car, and in the argument that follows he gets so angry he raises his hand to hit her.

Belle flinches and in self defence blurts out some news she’d been meaning to keep to herself – she’s pregnant.

How will Tom react?