EMMERDALE is to feature one of its most disturbing storylines yet as a teenager is sold for sex.
The ITV soap is set to have teen April Windsor suffer a horrendous ordeal at the hands of drug dealer Ray and his gangster boss Celia.
Viewers know that April and Dylan are being groomed by Ray into dealing drugs.
And with his boss Celia they have set about a plan to separate April from her family so they can draw her further into their criminal gang.
However the truth of what they have been planning has been hidden until now.
With Dylan and April struggling to pay back the debt they supposedly owe Ray and Celia and not knowing it was all a set up, they are facing pressure to do everything possible to make money.
Next week Dylan passes his driving test – but has been keeping it a secret from Ray.
Until Paddy lets it slip.
Ray congratulates Dylan but reminds him the crash course was expensive, so he’ll need to work extra hard to pay it off.
Dylan asks Jai about driving for the depot, and Jai offers him a trial shift to Hull.
Meanwhile,Ray discusses his new business plan with Celia, confirming Dylan will drive for them.
In return twisted Celia pushes for April to be more productive too.
Ray pressures Dylan into taking a delivery for him during his Hull trip and he reluctantly agrees.
April is anxious to hear of the plan. When Jai tells Dylan that Billy will be driving on the job to Hull and Dylan will be just accompanying him, Dylan worries how he’ll carry out Ray’s delivery.
Later April is alarmed when Ray tells her he’s sending her on a trip to Liverpool, he pressures her into taking the job or he’ll sell her debt.
April, feeling pressured to pay their debts to Ray finds herself stealing jewellery from Rhona just as Rhona walks in.
April finds Ray and tells him she’ll take his Liverpool job after all, but he says someone else is doing it.
So he gives her another job – but it’s far darker.
Steps to Keep Your Child Safe From Grooming
By Emma Kenny, true crime psychologist and parenting expert
- Encourage your child to share their day-to-day experiences. Ask who they talked to on the way home, what happened at the bus stop, and if anything made them feel uncomfortable. The more openly you talk, the more confident they’ll be to speak up if something feels off.
- If possible, arrange for your child to walk or travel with friends. Identify safe spaces along the route, trusted neighbours or shops where they can go if they feel threatened.
- Groomers often switch to online contact once they’ve made initial in-person connections. Monitor your child’s digital devices in a respectful but proactive way. Agree on ground rules for social media use, and encourage them to show you anything that makes them feel uneasy.
- If your parental alarm bells are going off, do not dismiss those feelings. Challenge unusual behaviour or new relationships gently but firmly. Seek professional advice if you suspect your child is at risk.
- If you have any evidence or strong suspicions that someone is grooming your child, contact the police immediately. Support and guidance from organisations like the NSPCC or Barnardo’s can also be invaluable in helping you navigate this distressing situation.
Ray drives April to a hotel, giving her cocaine for a ‘valuable client’ and tells her to have a drink.
April nervously arrives and Ray’s client, Tim, accepts the cocaine but offers April vodka.
Soon April finds herself trapped in a bedroom with Tim and it’s clear she is expected to have sex with him.
April’s terrified and trapped but what will she do?
