Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) is rocked in EastEnders next week, as
her abuser Pastor Clayton (Howard Saddler) dies by suicide amid a development
in the legal case against him. The church leader sexually assaulted Yolande
at the community centre earlier this year, and after finding the courage to report his crime, she was devastated when the police claimed they did not have enough evidence to charge him. But after a second woman called Delia come forward revealing Clayton had attacked her during his time at a previous parish, CPS charged the pastor with two counts of sexual assault. Next week, DS Amartey visits Yolande to inform her that a third woman has now come forward in the case against Pastor Clayton. Buoyed by her strength, Yolande later heads to the Community Centre where friends Levi and Agatha are delighted to see her.
However, things soon take a turn when Clayton’s wife Stella (Velile Tshabalala) arrives and asks Yolande to retract her statement. After serving Stella some home truths, Yolande later receives a visit at home from Clayton, who barges in and demands an audience. After pleading with Yolande to retract her statement, Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) orders him out, as Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson) are stunned to learn of the events. Yolande is proud to have stood up to her attacker, but as she and Patrick (Rudolph Walker) get ready to retire for the night, they are interrupted by a knock at the door from the police who inform the couple that Clayton has died by suicide. As the week goes on, Yolande reels at Clayton’s suicide as the family try to rally round her – how will she come to terms with recent events?