With various EastEnders castmembers promising that Dean Wicks will get his comeuppance and be leaving the soap sooner rather than later, details surrounding a plot that will act as a catalyst towards his exit have now been revealed.
Working with the charity Rape Crisis, the creative team behind the show have been planning a storyline which will see Dean attempt to rape current girlfriend Roxy Mitchell, in scenes scheduled to broadcast towards the end of this year.
Speaking to The Mirror, a spokesperson for Rape Crisis commented: "EastEnders has covered every other conceivable issue. If sexual violence or rape was the only big topic EastEnders never approached, it would reinforce the idea sexual violence is unspeakable.
"Because people relate to soaps they can have a social impact and make people feel less alone or encourage them to come forward and seek support for the first time."
So far, Dean has already allowed his controlling behaviour to overcome him, burning Roxy purposely with hair straighteners and cutting off a chunk of her hair during an argument earlier this year.
In 2014 he was also shown to rape sister-in-law Linda Carter, but the police decided not to take the case to trial. The accusations split the Square, with a number of locals charmed by his personality but others wary of him.
It was also revealed in storylines earlier this year that Shabnam Masood fell pregnant with Dean's baby after the pair had consensual sex in club toilets on a night out. Despite their night of passion, Dean forgot about the encounter because he was so drunk, and Shabnam abandoned her baby girl.
Dean's exit could come as part of a water-based stunt involving both Linda and Mick Carter, which showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins said would bring a "big resolution" in the New Year.
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