Lauren Bolton was targeted by a mystery blackmailer on Coronation Street as her storyline with Betsy Swain began.

Betsy has been struggling to come to terms with her shooting injury, which occurred following a hostage situation involving Rob Donovan, Carla Connor, Tracy McDonald and Betsy’s mother, Lisa.

Friday’s (25 April) episode began with Betsy lashing out at Tracy as she blamed her for the entire situation getting out of hand, though Tracy was unmoved as she told the teenager to get on with her life following her injury.

Carla attempted to defuse the situation, though Betsy was in no mood for pleasantries as she reminded Carla that the incident was orchestrated by her brother. In a down-spirited mood, Betsy attempted to buy a bottle of wine, though she was promptly refused.

Lauren saw the incident and refused to buy alcohol on Betsy’s behalf, though she did attempt to sympathise with her plight. Betsy, however, was full of rage, and plotted her revenge against Tracy.

As she waited outside the shop, she spotted an opportunity after Tracy left the florist’s van unattended. Betsy promptly vandalised the insides and wrecked bunches of flowers, with Lauren urging her to stop.

After Tracy returned, the pair panicked and drove away with Lauren in the driver’s seat, though the joyride ended in disaster as Lauren crashed the van. To make matters worse, she admitted she didn’t hold a licence – not the best thing to admit as the police arrived.

As the officer approached, the pair discussed their next course of action, with Betsy agreeing to take the blame as she reasoned that Lauren needed to support her son Frankie. Resigned to her fate, Betsy was taken in for questioning.

In the interrogation, she was joined by Lisa, who urged her to tell the truth. Despite being spotted with Lauren, Betsy refused to fully come clean, and took full responsibility for the crash despite Lisa’s scepticism.

After Betsy was scolded by her mother and Tracy, she met up with Lauren to inform her that she was in the clear. Lauren’s joy was short-lived, however, as she received a text from a mystery individual who knew that she was the one who crashed the van…

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 a