Belle stabbed her husband Tom with an axe as his horrifying abuse campaign reached a brutal climax

Emmerdale fans have been left making a plea to soap bosses after Belle King attacked her husband Tom with an axe as his horrifying abuse campaign reached a brutal climax.

As viewers of the ITV soap know, Belle has been a victim of domestic abuse which she’s been suffering at the hands of her conniving husband for months. After months of being manipulated and watched, as well as being made to believe she was relapsing with her mental health, Belle decided to leave Tom and end their marriage.

However, his cruel attempts to have a hold over her continued with Tom even hurting their dog, Piper, before lying about her death and threatening Belle saying he will never give up on her.

Belle did eventually confide in Charity Dingle about what had been happening, with the news spreading through the village. However, despite her efforts, Tom’s new girlfriend Amelia Spencer refused to believe Belle’s version of events and chose to listen to Tom as he managed to manipulate the young mum.

Tom was thought to have disappeared, with Belle and her family unaware that he was hiding out in the woods and that Amelia was in contact with him. It wasn’t until Thursday night’s episode (September 26), as Belle decided she was ready to report Tom’s abuse to the police, that he returned with the help of Amelia.

Trying to help Amelia escape the violent grip of Tom after she finally relented and said she wanted to talk, Belle invited the teenager to Wishing Well Cottage, but 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 again tried to make her believe she was the problem. Terrified, Belle grabbed a gun and forced Tom to open the door before she escaped. Unfortunately, a sinister Tom followed and while Belle found shelter, she was eventually found and, in a horrifying move, Tom 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 but when Belle pulled the trigger, she was blocked by the safety lock, which Tom then unlocked before holding the gun up to Belle. Scared for her life, Tom was ready to bask in his glory, admiring himself in a broken mirror before Belle struck him in the back with the axe he had left on the floor, leading him to collapse onto an old mattress.

As the episode ended, Emmerdale fans flocked to social media to share their plea for Tom to survive, and get the justice Belle deserved for all she has been through.

@fiftysomethingwitch said: “Please don’t let him die. He needs to face justice for what he’s done.” @emilyrisby13 commented: “Brilliant episode – But doesn’t deserve the easy way out, let him live. Give Belle the justice she deserves.” @fusedglassminipotterybysarah wrote: “Very stressful to watch that. Hopefully he’s alive and will face justice.”

@annemariem04 posted: “Hope he is not dead , he needs to be brought to justice , all the villains in soaps seem to get away with their crimes.” @stubbslynn shared: “He best not die he needs to pay and Belle needs justice.” @newstart356 added: “Keep him alive please, we need justice for Belle.”