Uh oh.
Coronation Street’s Bethany Platt is set for a shock next week when she hears that Neil Clifton is planning to appeal his conviction for grooming and raping her.
Craig Tinker ends up being the one to break the news to her when he pays a visit to the Platt house, which leaves Bethany devastated.
The twisted policeman Neil was one of the men who manipulated and sexually abused the teenager for months.
He ended up using his position as a police officer to cover his tracks, keeping himself, Nathan Curtis and the rest of the sick group out of trouble.
After hearing the news, Bethany – who saw Nathan and his friends found guilty of rape and conspiracy to rape late last year – insists that she won’t go back to court to give evidence.
Because of his eagerness to protect Bethany, kind-hearted Craig will ultimately find himself in trouble with his boss.
Colton Smith, who plays Craig on the soap, told Radio Times:
“It’s a knee-jerk reaction – he overhears that Neil is planning to try and overturn his conviction, which for Craig is the worst news possible.
“In his current mindset, everything is getting on top of him so he has to let it out.
“He goes straight round to the Platts and tells Bethany, but he doesn’t think of the consequences of his actions until afterwards.”
Craig’s superior officers end up finding out about what he’s done when they go to break the news to Bethany.
And they soon tell him his career could be in jeopardy.
Smith explained:
“DC Leigh tells him to take some time off as he’s too emotionally involved. This hits Craig really hard because he knows he could lose everything.
“The pressure is now building inside Craig – it’s a battle between Bethany and his job and which he wants more.”
In scenes set to air on April 2, the stress of the situation worsens his OCD, leading Craig to obsessively try and complete his rituals.
He continued:
“Craig is close to the point of a breakdown, but without knowing it, he’s saved by Bethany, who bursts into the flat.
“He keeps doing his rituals in front of her, but she can see something is wrong and he can see he’s scared her.
“But then when he’s done his rituals he calms down. Bethany takes him home and tells Beth what she’s seen and it’s Maria who suggests he could have OCD.”
Smith admits that Craig will find it “tough” when it’s suggestion her could have OCD, but that there’s finally a feeling of relief for “some understanding.”
