Emmerdale reveals Tom King's shock request for Belle Dingle

Emmerdale's Belle Dingle receives shocking news next week when she finds out that her abusive ex Tom King is being released from prison – and worse still, he wants to see her.

Ever since her former husband was locked up, Belle has been able to put the nightmare marriage behind her, safe in the knowledge that Tom couldn't get to her.

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So, when she hears that his release date is imminent, Belle is shaken to the core. But things get worse when she learns Tom is planning to seek her forgiveness…

"This seems like another Tom King mind game designed to mess with Belle's head," warns our Emmerdale insider. "It turns out that Tom has been confiding in Charles, who works as the prison chaplain, and has fully accepted responsibility for everything he did.

"Charles reckons Tom wants to beg for forgiveness, but Belle can't believe he's a changed man."

The news of Tom's release comes via Belle's victim liaison officer, who promises that his bail conditions will be strict.

Kammy Hadiq is deeply concerned as he sees his bubbly girlfriend fall into an anxious spiral, especially after she speaks to Charles.

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Tom put Belle through physical and psychological torture during their horrendous marriage, and now she feels as though he's crawled back into her head. But Belle is very different from the woman Tom knew before, and she has her own ideas about how to handle him now.

"Belle wants to regain control by going to see Tom in prison, on her own terms," explains our source. "She thinks that if she can confront Tom, she can take the power away from him.

"But Kammy is really worried that's the wrong move, and when Cain finds out, he agrees. The problem is that if she doesn't go to see him, Belle will be living in fear that Tom will just turn up."

Fortunately for Belle, there is some much-needed support on hand from Rhona Goskirk. After surviving a violent, abusive marriage and later having to face her ex Pierce Harris again, Rhona has a unique perspective.

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However, she is quick to warn Cain that Tom could prove even more dangerous now, just as Pierce did.

As Belle struggles with the lasting trauma of her abusive marriage, Kammy tries to give Belle the support she needs. When Kammy tells Belle that he loves her, the declaration completely freaks her out and she runs off.

Has Kammy accidentally made things worse for Belle when all he wanted was to prove she could depend on him? And as show bosses have already warned that Tom is playing games, what does he really have in mind for Belle?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

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