Emmerdale fans were left fuming after Tom King (played by James Chase) kills Piper by lethal injection leaving Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) devastated. The ITV soap aired a shocking scene on Monday (August 19), when abusive Tom left his beaten wife Belle to see her dog Piper one last time.
As Belle got emotional saying goodbye to her beloved pooch who was lying on a vet's bed, evil Tom prepared the injection that would effectively end the dog's life.
The horrific act comes after Tom deliberately ran over and injured his wife Belle's beloved pooch to get at her. Furious to realize he no longer had control over her, he was desperate for her to need him again.
But following Piper's senseless death, it's clear Tom has been rumbled by Belle who sees through his act, and accuses him of causing her injuries.
As Tom and Belle walk through the village, she is struggling and in shock over what seems to be the loss of Piper, but she then accuses Tom of "killing her".
Tom immediately tries to use the loss to get back into the house with Belle, telling her she needs someone with her for her mental health.
Belle denies this, but Tom keeps pushing that he should be there for her and that she needs him. Stopping in her tracks, realizing Tom was to blame, Belle looks consumed with anger.
As Tom tries his best to deny it, she tells him: "Oh my God it was you. It was you wasn't it... you’ve killed her. You ran her over."
Emmerdale fans were left digusted by Tom's heartbreaking act on Piper with some switching off. On X, one viewer wrote: "More animal cruelty. Miserable characters. Switching over to Netflix now."
A second wrote: "#Emmerdale ..are they killing Piper off? Or is this all for Tom to miraculously save her? I won't watch this programme ..hopefully someone will post what happens ..they have gone tooo far." (sic)
A third chimed in with: "Wow talk about triggering, thanks Emmerdale wish I hadn’t watched that when I’ve been through it twice this year. #emmerdale."
"The is so weird to watch, it’s sad but also it’s Tom. #Emmerdale", added another.
Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Tom's New Romance? Fans Are Not Happy
Emmerdale has appeared to confirm villain Tom King’s new romance - but fans are not happy.
As fans will recall, the vile villager, played by James Chase, has been abusing and gaslighting his wife Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) for months. But following a dramatic trip to Wales, Belle broke free and told him their marriage was over.
Tom has since moved in with the Kings - who are blissfully unaware of his true nature. Meanwhile, Belle has moved back into Dale Head after Tom told her he changed the locks.
However, he failed to inform her that he also got a key made for himself and has since set up cameras inside her house.
And during Friday’s episode (August 16), Belle attended Sam’s (James Hooton) birthday at the Woolpack. Tom was also there - and he quickly pulled Belle aside for a chat.
Standing her ground, Belle told Tom she’d prefer if he didn’t attend her family’s celebrations - leaving him fuming. He grabbed her wrists and started to threaten her.
Suddenly, Belle exploded, and demanded that he leave immediately - with the rest of the Dingle clan overhearing. Embarrassed, Tom quickly left - but across the bar, Amelia Spencer (Daisy Arwen Campbell) was quick to defend Tom.
She told Belle how she didn’t really understand why she had to be “awful” to Tom, asking Belle: “What’s he done that’s so bad?” - leaving Belle stunned.
Now, viewers are certain it’s only a matter of time before Tom and Amelia strike up a romance. On a Reddit thread, one person said: “The way Amelia stood up for Tom was weird.
“She treated Noah badly after they broke up so her comments make no sense. I can’t help feeling she’ll end up in a relationship with Tom. She’s single now. I wouldn’t put it past creepy Tom to do it thinking it’ll make Belle jealous.”
Someone else added: “I really hope not! Can Tom be trusted around Amelia's daughter?..it is possible he could harm her.”
A third penned: “He could go out with Amelia and treat her and Esther well to give the impression he’s over Belle (while secretly continuing to torment Belle). I can definitely see slimy Tom and innocent Amelia becoming a couple soon,” they added.
While on X, another angry viewer wrote: “Amelia needs to get out fast if Tom starts making a move.” A fifth also said: “How about Amelia get with tom I'm sure she be in for a rude awakening.”
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm
Emmerdale Fans Slam 'Creepy' Tom King's Hidden Cameras
Emmerdale fans slammed Tom King after "the creepiest ever" scenes on Thursday.
Viewers said that Tom had gone "too far" as he targeted wife Belle Dingle once again in a sickening camera twist. After Belle told him she did not want to get back with him and was ending their marriage, after months of abuse, Tom was furious.
What she did not know is that while she was away in Scotland, he'd set up cameras in the house to spy on her. Tom is not living at the house but keeps letting himself in, and in creepy scenes on Thursday we saw him sneak in as Belle slept.
He was shown watching her through the cameras on her phone, with the disturbing character having put cameras in her bathroom and bedroom. He watched her getting dressed and sleeping, before seemingly spying on her through the camera while sat on the sofa downstairs.
As Tom smirked knowing he had 24-hour surveillance of his wife, viewers were horrified and hoped he would be found out. Tom had been coercively controlling Belle for months after their wedding, before he turned violent.
She ended things recently and fled to Scotland for some time away. Tom had hoped he could win her over when she returned, believing he could get her back under his control.
But the abuser was left furious when Belle told him she wanted to stay away from him and did not want to give their marriage another go. She also refused to accept the car he bought her and told him to leave the home.
As Tom's latest antics were revealed onscreen, viewers took to X to slam him and said it was "a step too far". One fan wrote online: "Tom being in the house and also watching Belle when she has no idea is the creepiest s**t I’ve ever seen."
Another fan posted: "Tom testing new cameras to spy on Belle the creepy st," as a third added: "Nah that’s a step too far, Tom installing cameras to spy is bad enough but in the bathroom ffs the sick t*."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Emmerdale's Tom King Uses Family Pet as a 'Weapon' in Shocking New Scenes
During Friday’s episode, viewers will watch Tom deliberately rev his car in the direction of Belle’s dog Piper in order to exert control over her.
James Chase, who plays Tom, said his character is “well aware of the control he can exert by using his dog” in his abuse of Belle, played by Eden Taylor-Draper.
“This deliberate act, although horrifying, is Tom’s way of getting back in Belle’s life,” he said.
“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.”
For the storyline, the British soap has been working closely with the charities Refuge and Dogs Trust.
Paula Boyden, veterinary director at Dogs Trust, said: “The recent storyline involving Belle, Tom and Piper is incredibly distressing, but sadly it is reflective of what we too often see through our work.
“Those we support share their stories of the many ways that perpetrators use pets to coerce, control, physically harm and threaten within abusive relationships.
“We’ve heard of perpetrators not letting survivors walk their dogs alone, stopping them from accessing vet care for their dogs or being able to spend money on dog food, and even repeatedly threatening to harm or kill their dogs.
“This is incredibly frightening, and leaves people feeling very isolated.
“Sometimes, perpetrators will even buy their partner a pet with the purpose of using it as a means by which to control and entrap them, preying on the strong bonds people have with their beloved pets.
“We know that people often delay fleeing abusive situations as they are fearful of what may happen to their pets if left behind, and unfortunately, many refuges are unable to accept pets.
“This is where our Freedom team steps in to provides a vital lifeline, offering a safe and secure foster home for dogs until their owners have found somewhere safe to live.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in demand for our service, so it’s more important than ever that we are there to support anyone experiencing domestic abuse who needs to flee to safety with their pet.”
Emma Pickering, head of technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment at Refuge, said: “Sadly we know that abusers will often use a myriad of different ways to inflict harm on their partner or ex-partner.
“Domestic abuse is rooted in power and control and often abusers will focus their abuse onto pets too.
“There is a big link between animal abuse and domestic abuse.
“Pets are part of the family dynamic and domestic abuse can have devastating consequences.
“We’ve seen links with economic control and animal abuse – whereby a perpetrator will withhold funds and prevent a survivor from buying pet food or paying vet bills, and we’ve seen tragic cases of violence against animals, as well as threatening behaviour like in this storyline.
“It’s important that soaps do not shy away from the horrific reality of domestic abuse and all its impacts.”
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said viewers will see Tom put Piper in “great jeopardy” to try and keep control of Belle and added that it is “all too common that domestic abusers will use the family pet as a weapon”.
Emmerdale airs at 7.30pm on ITV1 on Friday.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women’s Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email [email protected]) or Men’s Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email [email protected]) for support and information.
Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help/. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
Emmerdale Spoilers: Tom King's Cruel Dog Cruelty Scenes
Emmerdale will air dog cruelty scenes as Tom King’s abuse towards estranged wife Belle continues.
The shocking scenes, set to be broadcast this evening (August 16), will see Tom try to exert control over Belle by intending to harm Piper, with the character deliberately revving his car towards the dog.
The scenes come after Belle's recent return to the village, with Tom letting her live in their home of Dale Head with Piper while he stays away. However, Belle is unaware that he has installed secret cameras and made his own key.
In last night's (August 15) scenes, Tom let himself in, lying to Belle that the door was unlocked. Belle once again rejected him, leading to menacing behaviour, and later on Tom was seen watching her through the secret cameras.
The new Piper scenes are being made in cooperation with Refuge and The Dogs Trust, with a 2019 study by the latter finding that pets are often abused and sometimes killed by domestic abusers in attempts to control and coerce.
Opening up about the new twist, Tom actor James Chase said: “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.”
“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 added.
“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?”
Emmerdale has assured viewers that no dog was harmed in the making of these scenes.
The new storyline comes after the show received over 1,000 complaints earlier this year over scenes of Piper being poisoned by Tom as part of the domestic abuse storyline.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
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
