ITV Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle lashes out at Tom King amid abuse storyline as he tells sick lie

Emmerdale is set for harrowing scenes next week when Belle Dingle lashes out at Tom King amid the couple’s devastating abuse storyline.

The ITV soap is tackling a coercive control storyline with the characters, and fans have seen Tom isolating and manipulating his partner Belle. With his vile behaviour worsening recently and him having her under surveillance, the latest episodes took an even more heartbreaking turn as Tom turned violent.

In upcoming scenes, Belle forces Tom to get help over his behaviour as she vows to leave him with the village vet promising to change his ways. However, it’s all part of Tom’s vile plan as later in the week he tells a sick lie to maintain his control over Belle.

During a doctor’s appointment with Liam Cavanagh, Tom manipulatively throws Belle under the bus when he instead claims Belle is the one with the problems. Spinning a sick lie, Tom implies that Belle has got behaviour issues, anger and is exerting coercive control over him. Meanwhile in the village, Mandy and Lydia Dingle are worried about Belle as she has not been herself and has not been replying to their calls or texts.

Later, during dinner, Tom puts on a show in front of the Dingles while Belle, who is unaware Tom is lying to her, is delighted to hear that her husband’s appointment with Liam went well. It’s not long until it’s the anniversary of Lisa Dingle’s death and Tom controls the day by engineering it that Belle waits in for a parcel for him, rather than join Lydia and Sam in a memory picnic for Lisa.

Meanwhile, over at work, Vanessa Woodfield and Rhona Goskirk prepare for Tom’s performance review but Tom is angered when he realises he’s about to receive some criticism as it’s clear that he doesn’t handle the review well. After Tom learns Belle didn’t wait in for his parcel, his fury boils over as he blames Belle for ruining the day and makes some harsh comments about her mother.

This makes Belle see red as she finally snaps after months of Tom’s vile behaviour as she pushes him over in the village as some of the residents watch on in disbelief. Has Belle’s public reaction helped sell Tom’s narrative that Belle is the one with the problems and will she finally leave Tom once and for all?

*If you have been affected by this story, you can access free and confidential support from Refuge’s 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and digital support via live chat Monday-Friday 3-10pm. You can also visit the tech safety website to learn more about technology-facilitated abuse.