Yahoo News Emmerdale airs horrific outcome of Tom King dog abuse scenes
The following article references animal abuse and coercive control.
Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Emmerdale has aired the horrific outcome of Tom King's dog abuse scenes.
The soap confirmed earlier on Friday (August 16) that the next episode would feature Tom once again trying to harm Piper the dog to exert control over estranged wife Belle.
While the couple have split, Tom has started spying on Belle by installing hidden cameras in Dale Head. His next move involved manufacturing a crisis so he could get close to her again.
The latest instalment of the ITV1 soap saw Lydia Dingle dropping in at Dale Head to convince Belle to come to Sam's birthday do.
Belle wasn't feeling up to being "sociable", as she preferred to stay home with Piper. When Lydia suggested it would do Belle good to be around family, she agreed to make an appearance.
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Belle later dropped Piper off at Wishing Well Cottage so she could play with Lydia and Sam's dogs before heading off to the birthday bash.
When Belle turned up for the family party at the Woolpack, she was upset to see Tom was waiting for her.
Tom demanded "a quick word", where he offered to sell Belle the car he originally intended to be a gift for her. Belle completely shut Tom down, telling him she didn't want the car.
"I've said we need to stay away from each other… In fact, I'd prefer if you weren't here this evening," she told Tom.
As Belle got up to leave, Tom grabbed her arm to warn her: "I decide where I go and don't go."
Tom finally agreed to leave after Belle loudly ordered him out of the pub. Later, the soap aired harrowing scenes as Tom spotted Piper near Wishing Well.
The soap cut away as he revved his car engine in Piper's direction. Later, viewers saw the horrible outcome of Tom's actions as he cried out to Belle across the village.
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Tom had Piper wrapped up in his jacket and claimed he'd found her run over in the road. He warned Belle not to look at Piper because she'd been "badly hurt".
"I'll do my best to save her," Tom declared as he rushed off towards the vet's office.
Will Piper survive?
The soap's producers have collaborated on this disturbing storyline with Refuge and The Dogs Trust to show the lengths abusers will go to to maintain control over their partners.
"Working with the charities and hearing first hand stories from domestic abuse survivors it's clearly all too common that domestic abusers will use the family pet as a weapon,” producer Laura Shaw said.
"In upcoming scenes viewers will see Tom go to desperate measures to try and keep control of his imploding marriage to Belle, which puts Piper in great jeopardy. Could this terrible act be the motivation that finally urges Belle to report her husband as an abuser?”
Tom actor James Chase added: "Tom is well aware of the control he can exert by using his dog in his abuse of Belle. This deliberate act, although horrifying, is Tom’s way of getting back in Belle’s life.
"He knows her reaction to Piper being injured will mean he can then be the one to comfort her and get close to her again. It’s a desperate act, but Tom is clutching at anything at this time.”
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, organisations including Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk), New Beginnings Peer Support (www.newbeginningspeersupport.com) and Women's Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk) can provide further support and information. The 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text LOVEIS to 22522.
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