Aaron Dingle: the truth about his abuse by his dad, Gordon, as he becomes a suspect in Anthony’s m.u.r.d.e.r

Aaron Dingle is one of the Emmerdale residents who’s suspected of m.u.r.d.e.r.i.n.g abuser Anthony Fox.

Aaron hasn’t really had much to do with Anthony since he arrived in the village, but it’s Aaron’s own personal history that means he could be the one to blame.

Viewers will remember that Aaron recently opened up to boyfriend John Sugden about his childhood abuse by his dad Gordon Livesy.

And when the awful truth about who had raped Ruby dawned on Chas, it was because of her own experience helping son Aaron fight for justice.

So what happened with Aaron and his dad, and where is his abuser Gordon now?

Aaron’s troubled childhood

Aaron was a troubled youngster. He had a rocky relationship with his mum, Chas, and grew up with his dad and his wife, Sandra.

His regular visits to Emmerdale usually brought drama but Aaron eventually moved to the village and started to repair his relationship with Chas.

As a teenager, Aaron struggled with his s.e.x.u.a.l.i.t.y. He tried to kiss his best friend Adam Barton, but then got involved with Adam’s sister Holly.

Adam wasn’t keen on the romance, but not because he cared about his best mate’s s s.e.x.u.a.l.i.t.y. Instead he told Aaron he thought he was gay, and he didn’t want him using his sister.

Aaron and Jackson

Realising Adam could be right, Aaron broke up with Holly and started going to a gay bar which is where he met Jackson Walsh (played by Marc Silcock, who had been in Emmerdale previously as Bob Hope’s son, Josh).

Meanwhile, Aaron’s surrogate dad, Paddy, was concerned that the one-time troubled young man was sneaking around. He uncovered Aaron’s secret and in return, Aaron beat Paddy up!

But Aaron eventually accepted he was gay and started a relationship with Jackson. Though their happiness didn’t last as Jackson was paralysed in an accident and later took his own life.

Gordon’s abuse of Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale

After a LOT of drama, Aaron finally got together with Robert Sugden and the pair seemed made for one another.

As they settled down together, Aaron felt secure enough to reveal another part of his childhood. He told Robert that he’d been s.e.x.u.a.l.l.y abused by his dad, Gordon.

With Robert’s support, he bravely faced up to his childhood trauma, and reported his father to the police for the abuse.

It was during this time that Aaron met up with his half-sister Liv – Gordon’s daughter with his wife Sandra – which was a bright spot to come out of the trauma of Aaron reliving his abuse.

Gordon was charged, though he denied it. So Aaron was forced to go to court and give evidence against his abusive father.

Justice denied?

When Gordon was sent to jail, Aaron changed his name to Dingle and tried to move on with his life. But his dad was later found dead in his cell and Aaron has always considered him to have escaped justice, in a way.

Which means when it comes to Anthony being m.u.r.d.e.r.e.d, Aaron’s definitely on the suspect list.

Especially when he discovers Anthony’s dark past.