Coronation Street spoilers: Bethany Platt sex ring plot begins as creepy Nathan begins grooming tearaway teen
Troubled teen Bethany is being unknowingly groomed by a creepy older man in the hard-hitting storyline
BETHANY Platt is in danger in Coronation Street.
The teenage daughter of Sarah Louise Platt is unknowingly being groomed by creepy older man Nathan after he found her unconscious in an alley and she thinks he's a good guy.
The much-older man begins taking an unhealthy interest in 16-year-old Bethany's life and tempts her further into his web by offering her free tanning sessions at his sunbed shop in return for her working for him.
Pretending to be a nice guy, he even suggests Bethany begin studying beauty therapy alongside her A-Levels to further keep her in his orbit.
It was recently revealed Bethany's life is only set to get worse as she becomes trapped in a sex ring storyline.
Schoolgirl Bethany, 16 — played by Lucy Fallon — will be groomed by her older boyfriend in the coming months.
But while fans will get an insight into his twisted psyche, Bethany will have no idea he aims to “pimp her out” to older friends.
The storyline draws inspiration from real-life horrors — and sources told how bosses debated the move before deciding to go ahead to raise awareness among young female fans.
One told The Sun on Sunday: “This storyline was not undertaken lightly, it was the subject of major discussions among the show’s writers and bosses.
“But in the end they agreed that, while controversial, it was very important. We know Bethany’s popular with girl viewers and hope to make them aware of the risks of this situation.
“The really sinister element is that, while viewers will be aware Bethany’s boyfriend is bad news, she’ll have no idea. Hopefully that will resonate.”
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The source added: “The storyline is set to begin at the start of next year.
"And the show is working closely with relevant child protection charities to make sure what we air is as realistic as possible.”
Bethany’s experience will echo those of victims of the Rochdale sex ring, whose perpetrators preyed on almost 50 teens.
Nine got a total of 127 years’ jail in 2012 for sex crimes against girls as young as 13.
A Corrie spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on storylines.”
- Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV
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