Emmerdale spoilers: Abuser Tom vows to get Belle help as he turns the tables in sinister scenes

Tom King (James Chase)’s abuse of his wife Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) in Emmerdale recently erupted in violence once again when he punched her in the stomach, leaving her in pain and with a nasty bruise.

Following this, she told him that the only way they could save their marriage would be for him to seek help, and he promised he would.

Tom’s behaviour towards Belle has been increasingly controlling and sinister, as he’s tracked her movements on an app and used a camera that’s supposed to be for keeping an eye on their dog Piper to police Belle’s private conversations with friends and family at home.

Piper is even part of the abuse, as Tom gave Belle the dog with the idea that she would have to stay home more to look after it rather than going to work.

He told Belle the dog would make her feel more secure after their home was broken into – although Tom actually staged the break-in himself to cover for the fact he’d smashed things up in a rage.

When Belle looked like she was getting on too well with Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson), Tom kidnapped Piper and made it look like Vinny had lost the dog. This almost succeeded in driving a wedge between Belle and one of her closest friends.

It was seeing Belle chatting to Lydia (Karen Blick) and Mandy (Lisa Riley) on the camera that made Tom really lose his temper with her again. They’d been talking about Belle’s decision to try for a baby – without knowing that this is something Tom has very much pressured her into.

Mandy was concerned about whether it really was the right thing for Belle but after she assured them it was they congratulated her. Mandy then made some gently teasing remarks about Tom because of his job as a vet.

Tom was seething as he watched this and he went back to the house, ensuring the conversation stopped. After Mandy and Lydia left he let Belle know how angry he was by punching her.

In Monday (May 20)’s episode, Tom had made an appointment to see GP Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson). Belle was hoping this would be a turning point as he’d get help to manage his anger issues.

At the appointment, initially it sounded like Tom was being open about his problems as he said he wished there was a switch he could flick or a miracle cure. ‘It just comes out of nowhere. All of a sudden all hell breaks loose and I’ve got no idea how to stop it – the mood swings, the anger, the paranoia.’

Liam assured Tom that he would get the help he needed. Then, shockingly, Tom flipped things around. He hadn’t been talking about himself, he said. He’d been talking about Belle.

How Liam will act on this information remains to be seen, but Tom’s accusations could seem plausible as Belle has previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

She accidentally killed schoolmate Gemma Andrews (Tendai Rinomhota) and her guilt over this led her to self harm, attempt to kill herself and almost kill her dad.

Tom met up with Belle for dinner at Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Moira (Natalie J. Robb)’s house, where he told her that the appointment with Liam had gone well. Reassured by that, Belle was feeling happier.

But in coming episodes we’ll see Tom twist things even further when he provokes Belle into lashing out at him – in front of the entire village.

Will anyone believe her version of events?