Tom’s (James Chase) reign of evil was never just going to end quietly with Belle (Eden Taylor Draper) telling her Emmerdale loved ones what an abuser he is.
No, he’s far too savvy and narcissistic for that, evidenced by the fact that when Belle caught him out for spying, he became menacing and frightened her into submission.
After confessing he’d been watching her, he revealed that he had access to her stash of intimate photos and was prepared to release them. ‘Do your worst Belle, I always win,’ he tormented her. He went on to warn her, ‘I’m never giving up on us Belle’.
But despite the fact he won’t go quietly, he underestimated her resilience. In a special episode that played out three scenarios of what Belle’s future could look like – with one resulting in Amelia, Tom’s new girlfriend, dying in a ‘fall’ – Belle bravely decided she needed to go to Charity and ask for help.
He’s also underestimated the power of her family bond. While he knew it was ridiculously strong, he has no idea what’s coming for him, especially with Charity at the helm. Now that the Dingles know the truth and that it’s not Belle’s mental health, the tide begins to change.
Tom’s self-preservation mode kicks in as he desperately tries to destroy the evidence of his menace, attempting to dispose of the cameras he’d hidden in Dale Head to stalk Belle. He is momentarily ruffled when Jimmy (Nick Miles) catches him red handed, but in typical Tom style he talks his way out of it and thinks he’s got away with it.
But in other ways things start to catch up with him. As news spreads of Belle’s accusation, he loses his job. That’ll go some way to wipe that smirk off his face.
And now it’s war. Two families at war, and one side has Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) on it.
As both sides try to make sense of the accusations, Jimmy (Nick Miles) and fiercely loyal Lydia (Karen Blick) go head-to-head over Tom and Belle. Jimmy is staunchly protective of Tom having been fed lie upon lie, while Lydia now knows the truth of what Belle has been having to put up with.
But with so much on his plate with the Haulage woes, Angel having her sentence extended, and Will (Dean Andrews) using the business as collateral against a 40k loan from Caleb (Will Ash), Jimmy may have too much on his mind to devote time to supporting Tom.
Is this the start of the evil vet’s downfall? Will the Dingles win this war?
