Coronation Street’s Simon Barlow revealed as Audrey Roberts’ attacker as Roy Cropper stuns viewers with his heroics

SIMON Barlow has been unmasked as one of Audrey Roberts' attackers in Coronation Street.

The tearaway - who is played by actor Alex Bain in the ITV soap - was part of the gang who viciously mugged the hair salon owner, knocking her to the floor and putting her in hospital in the process.

But unfortunately for him, Roy Cropper was there to grab Audrey's bag back and he recognised Simon in the process.

The moral cafe owner then used this knowledge, not to turn Simon in, but to shop him to his parents.

"He has a multi-coloured wristband, I've seen in the cafe before," said Roy.

He added: "I want to give him the opportunity to hand himself in.

"But I will tell Audrey and the police if he fails to do the correct thing."

With Simon's mum Leanne worried her son had gone back to his violent ways, she and Peter became increasingly worried and called him home.

However, Simon ignored them until his dad caught him in the back alley behind the street.

But as Peter confronted him and discovered the truth, Simon turned on the water works and lied through his teeth.

"I didn't want to do it, they made me do it, it was like the vodka, if I hadn't done it they would have made my life hell," he said and then begged his dad not to go to the police because he wouldn't be able to hack it in a young offender's institute.

However, later in the alley, devious Simon made his real thoughts clear when he bragged to another of the thugs how he had "handled it".

Viewers on the other hand were distracted by Roy's heroics.

One wrote: "Roy Cropper to the rescue #Corrie"

Another added: "Roy Cropper is a real human being and a real hero #corrie"

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