Yahoo News Coronation Street plans devastating new Toyah Battersby story
Note: This story discusses topics including rape and baby loss.
Coronation Street spoilers also follow.
Coronation Street's Toyah Battersby is forced to relive her past trauma as part of a hard-hitting upcoming storyline.
In 2001, Toyah was raped, badly beaten and left for dead by an unknown attacker, who was later revealed to be her friend Phil Simmonds.
After months of trauma, including a period where Toyah developed agoraphobia, the ordeal concluded with Phil pleading guilty to the assault at trial. Toyah left Weatherfield the following year and did not return for over a decade.
According to The Sun, viewers will learn that Toyah became pregnant following the attack, and the baby was stillborn. Facing further trauma in addition to what she had already experienced, Toyah buried the baby in a park.
Related: Coronation Street spoilers - Damon Hay and Sarah Barlow's future revealed
After finding out the land is set to be dug up, Toyah will worry that what happened will be discovered, more than two decades after the horrific event.
Digital Spy has reached out to ITV seeking comment about the storyline reports.
The original Coronation Street story caused controversy in 2001 when it aired.
Defending the storyline decision at the time, Georgia Taylor, who plays Toyah, said: "The main focus of the storyline is the psychological effect that the attack has on Toyah.
"There are many women out there who have been raped or sexually assaulted and we owe it to them to make sure that the storyline is handled sensitively and accurately.
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"It's obviously a very sensitive subject, and as an actress I can only hope I have done the storyline justice."
The storyline was also commended by St Mary's Sexual Assault Centre in Manchester, which worked closely with the programme ahead of its broadcast.
"The writers and the actors were very willing to learn and very anxious to get it right," said the centre's co-founder and clinical director Dr Raine Roberts.
Last year, the storyline was revisited as Toyah offered support and guidance to Amy Barlow, who was also struggling after her friend Aaron Sandford raped her.
Toyah explained that she understood what Amy was going through, and recommended she spoke to a counsellor.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, who work towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
Organisations including Sands and Tommy's are able to offer help and support to anyone affected by baby loss.
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