Emmerdale spoilers: Shock new romance for Jacob Gallagher with paedo Maya’s stepdaughter Leanna
EMMERDALE could see a shock new romance kicking off next week between grooming victim Jacob Gallagher and the former step-daughter of his abuser.
While they’re getting ready for the Halloween party, Leanna Cavanagh – who is the daughter of Maya Stepney’s ex-husband Liam – tries to kiss Jacob (Joe Warren Plant.)
But how will the teenager react?
The kiss comes after it was revealed earlier this month that twisted Maya could return to continue her abuse of Jacob after her prison release.
Speaking at the Inside Soap Awards, actress Louisa Clein who played Maya revealed: "The storyline will almost certainly continue."
Soap viewers were shocked in June when disgraced Maya, who Louisa played, was sentenced to just 12 months in prison for what she did to schoolboy Jacob.
She given a much more lenient sentence than expected after having her abuse charges knocked down to sexual contact with a minor.
The actress's performance as the twisted teacher won her the award for Best Bad Girl at the Inside Soap Awards this week.
Speaking about the dark plot, she told the Mirror: "I think the storyline will almost certainly continue. There are repercussions that will no doubt go on for years for those characters."
She added: "When we were doing the research with Barnardo's, they said that often the abused don't understand that they were abused until years later.
"So I hope that they follow through with that and continue with Jacob and the effects that it's had on him for years."
Many viewers were shocked that Maya got away with a sentence lasting less than a year - pointing to the character returning to the soap before long.
Before sentencing, Jacob's adopted dad David Metcalfe confronted Maya and got her to admit what she'd done.
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However, she insisted: "It wasn't abuse, and I'm not going to prison.
"I'm going to be with Jacob just like I warned you so I don't know why you're so surprised. You've lost David, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Even at the time viewers were convinced Maya would return and get revenge on David for keeping her apart from victim Jacob.
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