ALL hell is breaking loose this week as Ben Mitchell’s violent streak makes a return.
This time, the EastEnders troublemaker targets his rapist Lewis Butler – unaware of how his actions will impact everyone else around him.
1. Ben plots revenge
Much like any other victim of sexual assault, Ben Mitchell (portrayed by Max Bowden) is severely struggling to come to terms with the fact that he was raped.
But in order to grieve and heal, he decides to turn to something he excels at – vengeful violence.
Ben’s violent behaviour makes a comeback this week in the BBC One soap.
However, after targeting homophobes, he decides to take on a new challenge and Lewis Butler (played by Cork actor Aidan O’Callaghan) is his one and only target.
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Coming up this week, Kathy fusses over Ben as he begins to have doubts about reporting Lewis to the police.
Matters are only made worse when he spots Lewis with his husband Callum Highway (Tony Clay) as the pair seem to share a close conversation.
Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) senses Ben’s mood and the latter is fed up of being blamed for what happened with Lewis, thus proceeding to tell Jay all about his rape.
But as they talk about the attack, Jay inadvertently puts doubts in Ben’s mind about going to the police.
When Kathy takes him to the station, Ben changes his mind, worried nobody will believe him.
He then comes up with an idea which could lead to an ill-fated confrontation as he sends a message to Lewis asking to meet him.
Later on, Ben waits for Lewis at The Arches… letting his violent streak make another comeback as he holds a crowbar.
But when Lewis is a no show, he storms over to The Albert and demands that Kathy tells him where Lewis lives.
Ben sees red and his anger consumes him as he believes Kathy is protecting Lewis.
He struggles to keep his rage in check but Jay is a witness to the commotion.
Will Jay and Kathy be able to calm Ben down?
2. Kathy takes a stand
While Ben believes his own family could turn their backs on him, his mother Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) is actually making big decisions to protect him.
A rape survivor herself, Kathy has tried to push her son to report Lewis for raping him.
But before he can decide to arm himself with a crowbar, remaining indecisive about whether he should turn to the police or not, she takes matters into her own hands.
Lewis is sacked from his manager and bartender job at The Prince Albert as Kathy takes a stand in Ben’s defence.
Little does she know Lewis also has a vengeful streak.
3. Lewis retaliates
Ready to make Ben’s life a nightmare, Lewis decides to use one of his secrets against him.
Viewers may remember that Lewis is very much aware that Ben would find homophobes to attack in Walford – unbeknownst to Peter Beale (Dayle Hudson) who became one of his victims by mistake.
Fuming after being fired, Lewis turns to Kathy’s grandson Peter and tells him that his uncle Ben was the one who attacked him.
Soon enough, a family feud is looming on the horizon for the Beales.
4. Peter learns the truth
Peter was considerably shaken following his assault, believing his attacker to be on to him.
But finding out that his uncle was actually responsible for the trauma is the last straw.
Aware that he no longer has to look over his shoulder, Peter turns his attention to Kathy, who knew Ben had attacked him all along.
A drunk and enraged Peter tells her he knows it was Ben who assaulted him.
He issues his grandmother with a demand – Kathy has to prove her loyalty to Peter by reporting her son to the police.
But what will Kathy do?
