The teen has repeatedly committed sexual assault and been seen using derogatory language towards women, most recently targeting Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace).

Even Joel’s impressionable friend, Kat’s son Tommy (Sonny Kendall), was horrified, and Joel’s dad Ross (Alex Walkinshaw) dragged him away – but not before Joel directed a lewd comment at Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner)!

Ross’s partner Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) was furious, and ordered him to address Joel’s actions, recalling how her late grandmother Pauline (Wendy Richard) would never have let her get away with such verbal abuse.

Alone with Joel, Ross attempted to make him understand how wrong he was for speaking to Kat the way he did.

But remorseless Joel made shocking remarks about Kat’s track record with men and about her appearance, and Ross faltered when called out for thinking the same things about women.

Discussing Joel’s idol influencer, Ross tried to get the conversation back on track about respecting women, but he seriously messed up when he admitted he could identify with some of the opinions shared.

Ross and Joel watched one of the male influencer’s videos while both drinking beer, but Ross had yet to see how truly toxic this man’s views were until Joel left the room.

Things then took a dark turn when Ross found footage on Joel’s laptop of the latter’s assault on Isla on the tube.

An unsettled Ross also found some sinister photos of changing rooms, up-skirting and more, and when he confronted Joel, Joel chillingly claimed that he had done stuff that was “way more hardcore” than that.

Joel tried to talk his way out of trouble, but Ross put him on a technology ban and Joel said his dad would have to fight him for his phone.

With that, Ross put Joel’s laptop in the sink and damaged it with water, branding his son a disgusting pervert.

“I think there’s something very wrong with you,” declared Ross.

Vicki returned and, oblivious to what had gone on in her absence, told Joel that if he apologised to Kat, she would allow him to continue spending time with Tommy.

But how will Vicki react if she finds out what else Joel has been up to?

Can Ross step up and deal with Joel’s twisted attitude once and for all?