The hit ITV soap announced earlier this year that it will depict Belle Dingle and Tom’s controlling and abusive marital relationship. Tom has been exhibiting clear signs of coercive control and there are indications this could develop into physical abuse, as well as mental abuse, as last year Belle covered up the fact that Tom shoved her, causing her to hit her head.

So far, Belle has kept Tom’s behaviour to herself and things are only going to get more worrying when Tom starts using different methods of technology to assert his control over her. On Thursday night’s episode, Tom displayed more worrying signs after he secretly sabotaged Belle’s new job earlier this week.

While the Dingles celebrated Marlon’s birthday, Tom’s abuse escalated even further as he had an argument with Belle outside about her career and family. In a fit of rage, he kicked the air and accidentally knocked over Belle’s mum Lisa’s ashes. Belle was left distraught but cruel Tom refused to take the blame, instead claiming it was a “stupid” place to put Lisa’s ashes and there should have been a sign.

Later, Belle ended up telling her family she had knocked over the ashes and Tom was smug to see his wife lying to her family for him. After the party, Tom refused to let Belle in his car as she pointed out she would walk home to which Tom then gaslit her, telling her to get in the car to which Belle refused.

Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were left appalled over the scenes as one person said: “The gasp I just gasped #emmerdale!”, a different account put: “Tom! That is too far now. Either Belle has to realise what he is doing or Vinnie will see what is going on and help her I reckon. #Emmerdale”, another wrote: “So angry that Tom made Belle take the blame for smashing her own mother’s ashes #Emmerdale” while a different fan added: “Omg this is heartbreaking,Tom is pure evil… #emmerdale.”

The soap will be exploring the complex nature of domestic abuse over the coming weeks with various manifestations of abuse, including coercive control, emotional abuse, physical abuse and technology-facilitated abuse displayed by Tom. It will also highlight how escalates over time and how isolation from family and friends, love bombing, and manipulation can be used.