Coronation Street‘s Amy Barlow was left devastated in Friday’s episode when the police dropped her rape case against Aaron Sandford due to lack of evidence.
The soap opera has been tackling the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline which saw Amy pass out after having too much to drink.
Amy bravely reported the crime but was left upset after being told that there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue the case, with charges against Aaron being dropped.
However, her mother Tracy Barlow refused to let it drop and insisted on justice for her daughter, printing out flyers about how the police are ‘decriminalising rape’.
Amy (Elle Mulvaney) was quick to object to her mother’s plan, saying it was difficult enough to deal with without other people finding out what had happened to her.
Upset: Coronation Street’s Amy Barlow was left devastated in Friday’s episode when the police dropped her rape case against Aaron Sandford due to lack of evidence
Plan: However, her mother Tracy Barlow refused to let it drop and insisted on justice for her daughter, printing out flyers about how the police are ‘decriminalising rape’
Despite her objections, the episode came to a dramatic close when Tracy (Kate Ford) was still seen angrily printing off the flyers in a bid to find justice for Amy.
The latest twist in the emotional storyline saw Tracy telling Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) that she had seen Aaron had been released by police after his arrest.
Aaron Aaron (James Craven) was then seen protesting his innocence to maternal figure Abi Franklin (Sally Carman).
He said: ‘I didn’t do it, Abi I swear it!’
But Abi asked him: ‘Did you force her into having sex?’
To which he insisted: ‘No I didn’t.’
When he shared his fears about what people would think, Abi told him: ‘Just tell people what you’ve told me, you’re innocent.’
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby), who is dating Aaron, was then seen confronting Amy about what had happened.
Summer fumed: ‘You’re supposed to be my friend. Amy you slept with my boyfriend!’
Objections: Amy (Elle Mulvaney) was quick to object to her mother’s plan, saying it was difficult enough to deal with without other people finding out what had happened to her
Plot: Despite her objections, the episode came to a dramatic close when Tracy (Kate Ford) was still seen angrily printing off the flyers in a bid to find justice for Amy
But Amy emotionally admitted: ‘He raped me, OK? He raped me.’
‘You’re lying,’ Summer said. ‘You’re just saying it because you want to put all the blame on him.’
But Amy insisted: ‘I swear I am telling the truth, I never consented to sex. I wouldn’t lie about something like this and you know it.’
As she went to walk away, her friend assured her: ‘I believe you. I’m so sorry Ams.’
Concerned parents Tracy and Steve were then seen confronting Aaron, who still insisted he had told ‘the truth’ when protesting his innocence.
Tracy fumed: ‘Are you calling my daughter a liar? You want this whole inconvenient business to go away. We want justice for raping my daughter!’
And Steve added: ‘You know, when they bang you up, I hope you rot in there.’
Amy was then taken in for another round of police questioning, when they asked her about messages and photographs on her phone, with Amy saying they were making out that she was lying.
A police officer then visited Amy’s home and informed the family that there wasn’t enough evidence to go forward with the case, because it was Amy’s word against Aaron’s.
An upset Steve said: ‘So that’s it is it? Just a little chat and then whatever he did to her just gets brushed under the carpet.’
And Tracy asked: ‘You’re basically calling her a liar.’
A devastated Amy said: ‘Shouldn’t have bothered saying anything. What was the point? I should have known they’d never believe me.’
Release: The latest twist in the emotional storyline saw Tracy telling Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) that she had seen Aaron had been released by police after his arrest
Pals: Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby), who is dating Aaron, was then seen confronting Amy about what had happened, but Amy revealed she had been raped
Quizzed: Amy was then taken in for police questioning, when they asked her about messages and photographs on her phone, with Amy saying they were making out that she was lying
But Tracy assured her: ‘You were absolutely in the right, and you did the right thing by reporting it.’
Aaron was then confronted by Summer, who said she believed Amy and was not left convinced by Aaron’s protests that he was ‘innocent’ because the case had been dropped.
Aaron then packed his bags and was seen telling Abi that he planned to leave, but she convinced him to stay after once again asking him if he was innocent.
An angry Tracy was then seen creating flyers on her computer about how the police treat rape accusations, despite Steve’s objections that Amy wouldn’t want her to.
Revealing her plan, she said: ‘I’m designing a flyer, I’m going to get them out there. It says the police are decriminalising rape.’
But Steve insisted: ‘You can’t do that, Amy said she doesn’t want anyone to know. When you plaster them all up, they won’t put two-and-two together.’
‘This isn’t about you, this is about what Amy wants,’ he added.
But Tracy said: ‘She deserves our support to know she’s in our corner.’
When Amy entered the room and learnt of her mother’s plot, Amy voiced her disapproval and said she wanted to remain anonymous.
She said: ‘You are kidding me! You can’t do this, you start going round handing out flyers, people will start asking questions. It’s bad enough I have to deal with this, without people whispering.’
However, the episode came to a dramatic close as Tracy was seen ignoring her daughter’s concerns as she printed off the flyers and went forward with her plan.
In upcoming scenes, viewers will see the different reactions and understandings of non consensual sexual activity as both teens battle with what happened that night.
Hard-hitting: A police officer then informed Amy that there wasn’t enough evidence to go forward with the case, because it was her word against Aaron’s
Storyline: The soap opera has been tackling the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline which saw Amy pass out after having too much to drink (Aaron is pictured)
It is hoped the storyline will open up conversations between families and friends about the issues surrounding sexual activity amongst young people, including consent, awareness, respect and education.
Coronation Street researchers have worked alongside The Schools Consent Project, a charity established in early 2015 which sends legally trained volunteers into schools to deliver workshops on the legal definition of sexual consent.
The Rape Crisis national freephone helpline is available on 0808 802 9999 (12 to 2.30pm and 7 to 9.30pm every day of the year).
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
