Trouble is never far away when teen David Platt is around. Photo / Supplied
Angst-ridden Coronation Street teen David Platt has heaped misery on his family for months, but this week his wayward behaviour has catastrophic consequences. Because of his antics, Bethany swallows an ecstasy tablet and is seriously ill in hospital.
The drugs belong to Darryl Morton, who is looking after
them for a friend. When Darryl tells David he's planning to bury them in the garden, David says it's unsafe and offers to stash them at the Platts. But his choice of hiding place is careless, to say the least.
Jack Shepherd, who plays the terrible teen, says: "David picks up Bethany's doll in the living-room. When the head drops off, he shoves the tablets inside, not thinking that anyone's going to find them."
And can you guess what happens next? Later, David's supposed to be babysitting Beth, but is more interested in lounging in the garden. When he pops inside to check on her, he sees the tablets strewn across the floor and is horrified when Beth says she's eaten one. Panicking, David gets her to drink some salt water, to try to make her sick. When his sister Sarah - Bethany's mum - arrives home, he tells her that the little girl is ill. Sarah is not convinced, but when Beth starts convulsing, she calls an ambulance.
The drama will continue at the hospital the following week, when the doctors demand to know what Bethany has taken. David stuns his long-suffering family by confessing that she has swallowed E. Sarah flies at her brother, and alone in the hospital corridor, a guilt-ridden David breaks down in tears.
David admits everything, but later denies that the tablets were Darryl's, and lies that they belong to him, so he is arrested and given a caution.
When he returns home, Gail tells him it would be better for everyone if he left. Adds Jack: "It's ironic actually, because the one thing that he didn't do intentionally is what gets him thrown out. He didn't mean any of it to happen, and he's deeply sorry."
But will the near-disaster be enough to convince David to change his ways?
* Coronation Street plays on TV One, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 7.30pm
