Emmerdale spoilers follow for Tuesday’s (February 11) episode that is now available to view on ITVX. The episode in question will air on ITV1 on at 7:30pm.

Tom King (James Chase) staged an unexpected return to screens as he was seen in his prison cell just shortly after being notified that Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) had commenced divorce proceedings.

The abuser, as viewers know, is currently serving a three-year sentence after being found guilty of domestic abuse and coercive control towards wife Belle.

With the one year anniversary since their wedding approaching, Belle decided it was time to get the ball rolling on the divorce so that she could move forward in life.

The events planner, however, knew full well that Tom would make things difficult for her and thus she spoke with her solicitor, who encouraged her to visit him in prison to speed things along.

Tom, meanwhile, tried to manipulate the situation to his advantage, telling the prison chaplain – with a bible in hand – that he reckons he can make things right with Belle if she pays him a visit behind bars, hoping the chaplain would put in a good word for him.

Back in the village, Belle gave some thought to the predicament and ultimately resolved to organise a meeting with Tom after some words of advice from Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick).

It didn’t take Tom long to show his true colours and, when the situation was going like he intended, he became nasty and aggressive towards the prison chaplain.

He changed his tune, however, when he learned that Belle was in fact planning on coming to see him. The question is: just what does he intend to say or do?

And will he finally see that, despite his efforts, he is simply no longer in control? Will Belle get the closure she needs? Or, like he always does, will Tom make the situation as difficult as he can?

This is Tom’s first appearance since he was sentenced to three years in prison back in December.

Tom was arrested and charged in November for coercive controlling behaviour towards Belle, who had bravely reported him to the police months earlier.

He did everything he could to postpone the trial in a bid to evade justice but justice was ultimately served, with a jury finding him guilty.