Aaron Dingle: the truth about his abuse by his dad, Gordon, as he punishes evil Anthony Fox
Aaron knows exactly what Ruby is going through
Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale has personal history of sexual abuse after his own dad, Gordon Livesy, subjected him to it as a child.
So now he has cornered abuser Anthony Fox at Caleb’s depot he wants answers over his treatment of Ruby Fox-Miligan. Although Aaron has not been told anything directly, he knows exactly what Anthony is – and how he’s lying to cover it up.
Viewers will remember that Aaron recently opened up to boyfriend John Sugden about his childhood abuse. And when the awful truth about who had raped Ruby dawned on Chas, it was because of her own experience helping son Aaron fight for justice.
So what happened with Aaron and his dad in Emmerdale, and where is his abuser Gordon now?
Aaron’s troubled childhood
Aaron was a troubled youngster. He had a rocky relationship with his mum, Chas, and grew up with his dad and his wife, Sandra.
His regular visits to Emmerdale usually brought drama but Aaron eventually moved to the village and started to repair his relationship with Chas.
As a teenager, Aaron struggled with his sexuality. He tried to kiss his best friend Adam Barton, but then got involved with Adam’s sister Holly.
Adam wasn’t keen on the romance, but not because he cared about his best mate’s sexuality. Instead he told Aaron he thought he was gay, and he didn’t want him using his sister.
Aaron and Jackson
Realising Adam could be right, Aaron broke up with Holly and started going to a gay bar which is where he met Jackson Walsh (played by Marc Silcock, who had been in Emmerdale previously as Bob Hope’s son, Josh).
Meanwhile, Aaron’s surrogate dad, Paddy, was concerned that the one-time troubled young man was sneaking around. He uncovered Aaron’s secret and in return, Aaron beat Paddy up!
But Aaron eventually accepted he was gay and started a relationship with Jackson. Though their happiness didn’t last as Jackson was paralysed in an accident and later took his own life.
Aaron Dingle abused by his dad in Emmerdale
After a LOT of drama, Aaron finally got together with Robert Sugden and the pair seemed made for one another.
As they settled down together, Aaron felt secure enough to reveal another part of his childhood. He told Robert that he’d been sexually abused by his dad, Gordon.
He revealed it started after his dad had lost his job and Aaron was misbehaving. Gordon did it to teach Aaron a lesson. He told Aaron he wasn’t to tell anyone or else he would do it again.
Things got better when Gordon married Sandra Flaherty and they had daughter, Liv. But when Aaron once again got into trouble at school, Gordon raped him again, to bring him into line. It happened a third time when Aaron rowed with Sandra and Gordon wanted to punish him.
Aaron later went to live with Chas and didn’t see Gordon again until he was an adult. When Chas and Gordon started dating again, Aaron began self-harming. His cuts got infected and that’s when he revealed what had happened to him as a child.
With Robert’s support, Aaron bravely faced up to his childhood trauma. Gordon tried to claim Aaron was suffering from false memory syndrome and making it all up. But Aaron stayed strong and told his mum what had happened.
Chas went round to confront Gordon and though he denied it at first, he eventually turned aggressive and confessed. Chas told Cain, who tried to kill Gordon. But Chas and Aaron stopped him and Aaron reported his father to the police for the abuse.
Gordon continued to manipulate
Gordon was charged, though he denied it. So Aaron was forced to go to court and give evidence against his abusive father.
Wanting to make sure the case was watertight, Robert paid a young lad named Ryan to lie that Gordon has assualted him too. Gordon was sure Chas was behind the set-up and violently slammed her against a wall. Aaron was furious about the deal and made sure Ryan retracted his statement.
Gordon was pleased as it made his case all-the-more stronger. He had been suffering from cancer and was using the side-effects to look frail and it got him released on bail at his plea hearing.
After reconnecting with daughter Liv, he started using her to spy on Aaron and get dirt on her brother. But Liv wisened up and told Aaron. He confronted his dad and told him he would see him in court.
Was Aaron denied justice in Emmerdale after his abuse by his dad?
In court, Liv turned on her dad and helped secure the conviction. Gordon was sent to jail for 18 years, Aaron changed his name to Dingle and tried to move on with his life.
However, during the party to celebrate his name change, the police arrived to inform Aaron his dad had been found dead in his cell. Although it was believed Robert had paid to have him killed it turned out Gordon took his own life by hanging himself.
Aaron has always considered him to have escaped justice, in a way, which gives him a strong motive for murdering Anthony.
Danny Miller, who plays Aaron, says that his alter ego has a “gut feeling” about Anthony. He also points out that he’s always been cautious around Ruby’s dad.
“Aaron has always been wary of Anthony,” Danny explains. “Whether that be an instinct from experience or whether that’s a case of – he’s a loud and out there character – something Aaron hasn’t always been a huge fan of.
“He’s got his suspicions of him for whatever reason that may be.”
But though Aaron has been wary – and this week has been warned off speaking to Anthony by mum Chas – Danny says it takes more for Aaron to realise there’s something else going on.
“It’s only when he sees an altercation with Ruby down by the church where Anthony is very hands on and aggressive with her that his suspicions are confirmed,” Danny explains. He adds that Aaron recognises the look of fear that Ruby has around her dad. “What he sees in Ruby – is himself.”
Danny Miller: Aaron wants ‘revenge’
Obviously Aaron’s immediate reaction to the horrible revelation about Anthony is one of aggression.
“He wants revenge,” says Danny. “For Ruby, of course. But he sees his chance to level with Gordon who took ‘the cowards way out’ as Aaron calls it – killing himself in prison.”
But he also feels “pure disgust and dread”. And of course, it brings back a lot of dark memories for Aaron.
So could he be Anthony’s killer? We all know that Aaron’s not a stranger to lashing out when he feels the need. He’s definitely resorted to violence in the past.
And despite his new relationship with John, and the fact he seems to be settled again now, he’s still recovering from losing sister Liv.
But with a bit of distance between him and Ruby, what would Aaron’s motive be? Danny thinks it’s simple.
He says: “Having experienced the same abuse and disgusting acts and never really got the justice he deserved or that Gordon (his dad) deserved. The motive is there in plain sight!”
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinsider