Tom King is pulling out all the stops to avoid facing justice in Emmerdale as his trial looms. Set to stand trial for coercive control and assault

after being exposed for abusing his wife, Belle, Tom’s desperation leads him to take increasingly drastic measures. When his uncle, Jimmy,

refuses to support him in court, Tom resorts to his final, sinister tactic: manipulating Belle into staying silent.

Tom’s plan takes a dark turn when he stages a dramatic event in prison, faking a suicide attempt. Belle is later informed that Tom has been rushed to the hospital after the incident, leaving her shaken and filled with doubt. As she grapples with her emotions, Belle begins to question whether she can still testify against him if he’s truly struggling with his mental health.

However, Charity Dingle sees through Tom’s ploy. She quickly deduces that Tom is faking the entire thing to manipulate Belle, just as he has done countless times before. Determined to get the truth, Charity forces her way into Tom’s hospital room, demanding that he confess. But this encounter has the opposite effect. Tom, realizing that Charity’s visit is motivated by concern for Belle rather than his own well-being, becomes smugly confident that his plan is working.

As the week progresses, the tension builds to a boiling point. The day of the trial arrives, and Belle, in an emotional turmoil, leaves her family a note before sneaking out of the Dingle house. The prosecution warns the Dingles that without Belle’s testimony, the case against Tom could crumble. This leaves everyone on edge, wondering: will Belle make it to court and face the man who has tormented her for so long, or will she succumb to Tom’s mind games, allowing him to walk free?

James Chase, who plays Tom, recently commented on his character’s twisted machinations. “Tom planned this all along. He knew he wouldn’t seriously harm himself. He’s pretty confident he can manipulate the situation to avoid trial altogether,” James explained. “It’s a huge shock for Tom when he finds out he’s actually fit to stand trial. For someone like him, who plans for every contingency, this is a real reality check.”

Chase further elaborated on Tom’s strategy, saying, “Tom is trying to get into Belle’s head and cause enough stress so she can’t show up in court. The more he messes with her, the more likely it is she won’t be able to testify, and without her, the case against him could fall apart. His ultimate goal is to manipulate the jury and walk away scot-free.”

The stakes are higher than ever as the trial episodes air on Wednesday, December 18 and Thursday, December 19, on ITV1 and ITVX. Will Belle find the strength to testify, or will Tom’s twisted mind games leave her too broken to take the stand? This emotional showdown promises to leave viewers on the edge of their seats as Tom King’s shocking plan unfolds, with the future of Belle—and the entire Dingle family—hanging in the balance.