Tom, as viewers know, is currently being investigated by the police after Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) reported him for abusing her throughout their marriage.
The abuser has gone out of his way to paint himself as the victim of the narrative and even managed to manipulate Amelia into believing that he’s innocent.
Pretty much everyone else, however, knows full well that Belle is telling the truth, even Nicola (Nicola Wheeler), who moved out of her own home in a bid to protect her kids from him.
Jimmy (Nick Miles) also refuses to acknowledge that his nephew might not be the sweet, innocent boy he’s claiming to be, which has caused a rift in his marriage to Nicola.
In a bid to unite the clan, Jimmy tried to persuade Nicola to attend the bonfire night at the cricket pavilion with the kids.
Despite her reservations, Nicola ultimately agreed – though she was under the impression that Tom wouldn’t be there, with the abuser assuring his uncle that he would give it a miss.
But in typical Tom fashion, the former vet lied through his teeth and subsequently showed up at the bonfire, much to Nicola’s dismay.
The Dingles weren’t pleased either but, despite Tom’s best efforts, the clan refused to let him get under their skin and they even managed to reclaim the upper hand by bringing out an effigy dressed as Tom, chucking it on the bonfire.
Tom was incensed and demanded to know who was to blame. The Dingles closed ranks, refusing to divulge which one of them created the effigy.
The animosity simmered, with Amelia desperately trying to calm Tom down. Tom, however, snapped at her, claiming that it was her fault he showed up at the bonfire, gaslighting her into believing that she invited him.
To make matters worse, Tom then berated Amelia, claiming that she always follows him around, branding her ‘pathetic’.
Amelia, horrified, stormed off.
It seems she has realised that Tom isn’t the person that she thought – and is more akin to the nasty, manipulative bully that Belle described.
As the fireworks lit up the night sky, Tom seethed, raising that he is no longer in control. Will he finally pay for his crimes?
