Viewers of the ITV soap are eager for the evil solicitor to get his comeuppance

Coronation Street fans think they have worked out Joel Deering’s next move – and it could see him avoiding prison. Viewers of the ITV soap are eager for the evil solicitor to get his comeuppance for his grooming crimes.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Joel was Lauren Bolton’s ‘secret boyfriend’ and was behind her disappearance and presumed murder after he was seen attacking her with a chair leg.

It was unclear if Lauren was still alive until July, when she returned to visit a poorly Roy Cropper, who had just been released from prison suspected of killing her.

As she tried to leave undetected, Joel accosted her in the hospital where an intense confrontation ensued and the truth about their relationship was exposed, showing Joel had been paying Lauren’s bills and buying her gifts in return for sex, leading to her falling pregnant with his child.

Since then, Joel tried to keep Lauren quiet by secretly housing her in his flat with promises of her being able to start a new life in Belfast. However, in a shocking twist, Joel was seen giving the teen a drug that saw her go into early labour with their son, Frankie, who is now fighting for his life in the hospital.

Last week, Corrie viewers saw DS Lisa Swain and Dee-Dee Bailey closing in on Joel as they discovered who had delivered the package of pills that spurred on Lauren’s early labour. But when Joel was taken in voluntarily for questioning, he confidently avoided claiming any responsibility.

It wasn’t until Friday’s episode (September 20) that Swain finally had Joel bang to rights following a confession from her daughter Betsy, who has also found herself mixed up with Joel, admitted to being the one to order the drugs for Joel, not knowing what he really intended to use them for.

Betsy confided in her mother about the fact she’d been the one to help Joel get the pills by calling the private clinic, to which she gave a fake name and Dee-Dee’s address as requested by Joel. After being taken in for questioning again, Joel denied having anything to do with it as he believed they had no evidence to prove what he did.

That was until Swain played the recording of the phone call Betsy made to the clinic, with Joel heard talking to her in the background as he instructed her with what to say. Joel still thought he could worm his way out of it and his face dropped as Swain returned later to confirm the CPS had agreed she could go ahead and charge him.

He was given bail, but it’s clear he won’t be getting away with it. Joel was later seen being accompanied back to his flat with by an officer, whom he had to surrender his passport to. But as soon as the officer left, Joel appeared eager to pack a bag before appearing frustrated at his predicament.

But Corrie fans think Joel will find another way to escape justice. @perfwithsurf said: “#Corrie Joel are you going to do a runner? Have you got another passport?” @GeorgiaBowring commented: “#Corrie He could still do a runner without a passport!” @AndrewGodsell shared: “Wonder if Joel has another passport. #Corrie.” @FillsWhales added: “That could have been anyone’s passport. Plod didn’t check! #Corrie.”