Emmerdale's Belle Dingle Takes Matters Into Her Own Hands: Did She Kill Abusive Husband Tom King?

Emmerdale viewers were left on the edge of their seats on Thursday (September 26) as Belle Dingle, played by Eden Taylor-Draper, found herself in a life-threatening situation. The character has been subjected to months of torment and physical abuse at the hands of her estranged husband Tom King, portrayed by James Chase, who even convinced her that her beloved pet had died.

Earlier this week, Belle bravely decided to report Tom's abusive behaviour to the police after discovering hidden cameras in her home, evidence that he had been spying on her. However, when Tom's new romantic interest Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell) got wind of Belle's plan, she revealed it to him.

In an attempt to help Amelia escape from Tom's violent clutches, Belle invited the young girl to Wishing Well Cottage, but Amelia promptly informed Tom about this. In a chilling turn of events, Tom later let himself into the house, leaving Belle paralysed with fear.

Tom quickly reasserted his dominance over Belle, beating her until she was bloody and then blaming her for his actions. However, Belle soon saw a chance to escape and took it, grabbing a nearby hunting rifle as she fled, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Tragically, Tom was hot on her heels, wielding an axe. Belle managed to find a hiding place, but Tom eventually located her and, in a terrifying move, hacked down the door to reach her.

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The two then came face to face, with Tom dropping his axe and daring Belle to shoot him. Belle pulled the trigger, but the safety was on, blocking the shot. In a horrifying twist, Tom then unlocked the safety and pointed the gun at Belle.

As Belle was confronted with the grim prospect of death, Tom was prepared to revel in his triumph, admiring his reflection in a shattered mirror before Belle attacked him with the axe he had carelessly left on the floor, fearing for her life.

But has Tom met his end? Or will he pull through?

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Emmerdale's Belle Dingle stabbed her abusive ex-husband Tom King in shocking scenes on Thursday's night's episode of the ITV soap, as she fought for her life. Fans of the soap have been eagerly awaiting justice for the villainous Tom, played by James Chase, who has been abusing estranged wife Belle (played by Eden Taylor-Draper) for months as part of a harrowing storyline. Recently, Belle made the brave decision to report Tom to the police, armed with evidence. However, when Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell) got wind of Belle's plan, she quickly informed Tom.

Amelia, who is infatuated with Tom, helped him find Belle during Thursday's (September 26) episode set in the Yorkshire Dales. Amelia told wedding planner Belle that she too had issues with Tom and wanting to help Amelia avoid the same abuse she endured, Belle invited her to Wishing Well Cottage for a chat. However, unbeknownst to Belle, Amelia told Tom the plan, reports the Mirror.

In chilling scenes, Tom let himself into Belle's home, leaving her visibly frightened and scared. Evil Tom locked the door and quickly reasserted his dominance over her, beating Belle until she was bloody in horrific scenes. But Belle saw an opportunity to escape and grabbed a nearby hunting rifle. Unfortunately, Tom was hot on her heels, brandishing an axe.

Belle found herself in a terrifying situation when she was cornered by Tom, who hacked down the door of a shed to reach her. The tension peaked as they stood face to face, with Tom dropping his axe and challenging Belle to shoot him.

However, Belle's attempt to fire was thwarted by the safety catch, which Tom later disengaged, turning the gun on her. After taunting her, Tom admired himself in a shattered mirror, only for Belle to seize the moment and strike him with the axe he had dropped on the floor, acting out of sheer terror.

Fan will now wonder if Tom will survive, or if this will be the end of the villian. Notably, actor James Chase, who has played Tom since 2023, is rumoured to be exiting the soap.

Reports from late July, suggest that James has decided to leave the soap, with his final scenes expected to be explosive.

"It's the right time to leave," an insider told The Sun. "James has loved his time on the show playing such a powerful story but the truth is that characters like Tom have a shelf life for a reason. There’s no long-term redemption for Tom coming - he has to leave one way or the other. And either way it will be dramatic. James is rightly proud of the part he's played in raising awareness of the issue with the story but it’s time to go and spread his wings."

But is this really the last viewers will see of Tom?

Emmerdale aired a shocking twist for Belle Dingle on Thursday (September 26) as she fought for her life.

Abusive Tom King (James Chase) has been tormenting and violently abusing his estranged wife Belle (portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper) for months, and has even made her believe her beloved dog is dead.

Earlier this week, Belle made the brave decision to tell the police about Tom's abuse after she found hidden cameras in her cottage proving he had been spying on her. But when the news reached Tom's new love interest Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell), exposed Belle's plan.

Trying to help Amelia escape the violent grip of Tom she invited the teenager to Wishing Well Cottage, and she immediately told Tom. In chilling scenes, Tom later allowed himself into the home as Belle froze with fear.

Tom immediately exerted his control over Belle once again, before beating her bloody and pretending she is the problem. But it wasn't long before Belle saw and seized an opportunity to run for her life, grabbing hold of a nearby hunting rifle.

Unfortunately, Tom soon followed suit with an axe in hand. Belle found shelter but she was eventually found and, in a horrifying move, hacked down the door to get through to Belle.

The pair were then face to face, with Tom dropping his axe and challenging her to shoot him. Belle pulled the trigger but the shot was blocked by the safety, which Tom later unlocked, holding the gun up to Belle.

As Belle stared death in the face, Tom was ready to bask in his glory, admiring himself in a broken mirror before Belle struck him with the axe he had left on the floor, terrified for her life.

But is Tom dead? Or will he survive?

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX

This article contains discussion of domestic abuse, including coercive control, that some readers may find upsetting.

Viewers were left wondering if Tom King (James Chase) had met a grisly end in tonight's shocking instalment of Emmerdale (26th September 2024).

Tom has been abusing wife Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) with violence, gaslighting and coercive control for several months, and as she prepared to report him to the police, she was finally starting to see a future beyond her ordeal.

But Tom, who recently went into hiding, now had new girlfriend Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell) onside.

Tonight, Amelia told Amy Barton (Natalie Ann Jamieson) that she now believed Belle - but it was all a ploy as she was seen telling Tom she would do whatever he wanted.

Amelia then asked Belle if they could meet at Wishing Well cottage for a chat, lying that she wanted to help her. Alone at home, Belle was terrified when Tom walked in and locked Belle inside, revealing Amelia's role in setting the whole thing up.

Tom proceeded to mock Belle, taking her phone when she tried to call for help and telling her how she had wrecked their marriage, even as Belle declared every sickening move he had made towards her and branded him "a weak, pathetic abuser".

When Belle tried once more to leave, Tom knocked her to the ground and hit her again and again, with a numb and traumatised Belle later seen staring at the blood from her injuries.

She was forced to contain her terror when a delivery man left a parcel outside, but soon picked up her brother Sam Dingle's (James Hooton) shotgun and threatened to shoot Tom in order to make her escape.

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As Tom chased her through the village, Belle hid in the cottage flat, desperately trying to keep Tom out as she feared for her life. Tom clocked Belle's hiding place and dragged an axe along with him, ordering Belle to let him in.

As the Dingles realised that she was in danger, Belle screamed as Tom broke down the door with the axe. She went to shoot Tom, only to find the weapon's safety was still on.

A gloating Tom took the gun, took the safety off and prepared to shoot Belle - only to turn his back and be struck down with the axe! As Belle stood over Tom's lifeless body, has she killed him?

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 via nationaldahelpline.org.uk.

You can read more on Clare's Law, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, via this Gov.UK factsheet.

Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX.

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Emmerdale spoilers follow from Thursday's episode (September 26).

Emmerdale aired one of its biggest cliffhangers of the year on Thursday evening as Belle King was provoked into lashing out at her abusive husband Tom.

Tom's fate has been left uncertain after a terrifying showdown played out in the ITV soap's latest hour-long episode.

The villain has been keeping a low profile in recent weeks following Belle's decision to confide in her family about his domestic abuse. However, he made a sinister return to Belle's life after being tipped off over her plans to report him to the police.

Tom was in cahoots with his new girlfriend Amelia Spencer, who doesn't believe the allegations against him.

Related: Emmerdale star Charlotte Bellamy addresses Arthur's big new lie

Amelia tricked Belle into agreeing to meet with her at the Dingle family homestead. She hinted that she'd seen Tom's true colours and wanted to discuss it, but it was all a ploy and Tom was the one who turned up instead.

The story took an upsetting turn as Tom let himself into Wishing Well Cottage, blocked Belle's exit and locked both of the doors.

Tom tried to regain his cruel control over Belle and became violent again when she refused to comply. Belle only managed to escape by grabbing Sam Dingle's shotgun and ordering Tom to let her leave.

Related: Emmerdale sets up emotional Zak Dingle story in latest episode

Sadly, Belle's ordeal wasn't over as Tom chased her around the surrounding area, forcing her to find a hiding place. Belle sought refuge in the empty flat on the Dingle family property, but a relentless Tom forced his way inside with an axe.

Belle still had the gun in her possession and tried to scare off Tom by threatening to shoot him.

Tom taunted her in response by warning of the potential consequences: "They'll lock you up in a cell – just like they did after Gemma. Because you're not sane, Belle. You need help – and I'm trying to help you."

Related: Emmerdale's John Sugden explains Aidan Moore mystery

When Tom refused to back off and edged menacingly towards her, Belle pulled the trigger of the shotgun but was taken by surprise as the weapon's safety mechanism was switched on.

This gave Tom the opportunity to grab the gun and continue to threaten Belle, pointing the gun at her and keeping her guessing over his evil intentions.

When Tom turned his back for a moment, Belle took the chance to grab the axe that he'd discarded and plunge it straight into his back.

Related: Emmerdale's Aaron Dingle implicates John Sugden in criminal plan

As Tom collapsed to the ground, the chilling episode ended with Belle once again left traumatised. Has she killed Tom?

Emmerdale continues on Friday (September 27) at 7.30pm on ITV1, when an ambulance arrives in the village and answers are revealed.

For more Emmerdale gossip in the meantime, you can check out our 7 huge spoilers and 19 new spoiler pictures for next week's episodes.

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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