The sociopathic scaffolder has largely managed to keep his appalling treatment of his long-suffering partner behind closed doors, isolating Todd from his loved ones with mind-games, emotional manipulation and fear.

But after Theo secretly left Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) to die in the Corriedale crash out of jealous rage, Todd sunk into a grief-filled despair over the death of his ex, friend and soul confidante.

This only makes Theo all the more insecure and desperate to keep his victim under control.

Until Todd reached breaking point.

After a blazing row about buying an unsatisfactory birthday present got way out of hand, the monster threatened his fiancée with a knife. In a shocking scene, Todd defiantly challenged Theo to use the knife and ‘put him out of his misery’. Feeling powerless now fear was no longer effective, Theo ended their relationship to save face.

But Theo wasn’t finished yet. His latest manipulation backfired spectacularly when he tried to make Todd jealous by flirting with a colleague, only to end up seething his ex went on a date with another bloke.

Furious Theo punished Todd by spiking his drink during some marathon training. When Todd got woozy, he walked him home and laid him down on the sofa… before switching off his alarm so he would miss the marathon.

Tonight’s episode saw Theo give a guilt-ridden Todd a shoulder to cry on for letting everyone down… then pulling in for a passionate kiss. It was all a ruse to weasel his way into Todd’s affections and trap him again in their toxic relationship.

Think things couldn’t get any worse? Think again. Upcoming scenes of Coronation Street will see the vile bully try to literally force his unfortunate fiancé into getting married, which will surely ring alarm bells for Todd’s nearest and dearest – like boss and mentor George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley), Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins) and Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien).

When George overhears Theo spitting vitriol in Todd’s direction, he starts to suspect that the closest thing he’s got to a son is being domestically abused. He confides in Sarah and his sister Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger) who reel to realise Todd’s been suffering all this time. But then Todd returns, realises they’re talking about his and leaps to Theo’s defence. It seems Todd is still under Theo’s spell.

But someone else is about to see the monster’s true colours – Gary Windass (Mikey North).

Gary has always considered Theo a good mate and a trusted employee. But when Sarah shares George’s theory and lists all the past signs which point to domestic abuse, suddenly the scales fall from Gary’s eyes.

Later, Theo spews out a tirade of abuse the moment Todd walks through the door… only to realise that Gary is with him. Busted! The next thing Theo knows, Gary fires him from the builder’s yard.