Jimmy hurt me...
Archie lies to cover up Arthur’s physical abuse
Jimmy King has been called a lot of things in his time – mostly by his wife, Nicola – but never a child abuser.
That, however, is the horrible label he’s landed with when Laurel’s son, Arthur, lies that he has harmed little Archie in order to hide his own twisted behaviour.
It’s not like Arthur to be so cruel. However, since Jai’s estranged son has arrived on the scene, things have changed.
‘Laurel has got a new man in Jai, and Jai has brought Archie into the picture,’ says Nick Miles, who plays Jimmy. ‘For Arthur, that feels like he’s losing his mum a little bit. He’s very jealous of the attention that is being devoted to Archie.’
Arthur’s ill-feeling rockets when Jai brings Archie to a picnic to mark what would’ve been Ashley’s birthday. As everyone returns home, Laurel sends the boys off to play, pleased to think they’re pals.
But out of sight of the adults, Arthur attacks Archie for ruining his dad’s special day, causing him to be briefly knocked unconscious. As Jai and Laurel tend to the lad, who Arthur claims ‘fell’, they notice bruises on him. Arthur’s responsible for them, but quickly blames Jimmy, and Archie is too frightened to say otherwise.
‘Jimmy and Jai have never really got on, and Jai is happy to accuse Jimmy when Archie says it was him,’ adds Nick. ‘Jimmy reacts with total shock. In his head, he couldn’t be accused of anything worse.’
Nicola stands by her man, as Laurel stands by hers – causing the women to fall out.
All the while, Arthur continues to hurt his new ‘friend’. Can Archie find the courage to speak out?