Coronation Street character Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon) has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale). The verdict was delivered in the July 3 episode, available on ITVX and YouTube ahead of its ITV1 broadcast.
Megan’s manipulation revealed
Megan was introduced last year when Will arrived in Weatherfield as part of the new owners of the Rovers Return pub. She initially claimed to Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) and Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker) that she had found Will sleeping in changing rooms and drove him to the cobbles. However, when alone, it was revealed they were in a secret relationship. Over time, Megan manipulated Will into keeping quiet about the abuse, leaving him believing he was in a consensual relationship.
Sam Blakeman exposes the truth
Teenager Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) was the first to suspect Megan’s true nature. He confronted her about grooming Will, but Will denied it and defended Megan. Sam persisted, but Megan destroyed his confidence, leading to Sam collapsing and being hospitalised. He then confided in Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), sparking an investigation.
Courtroom twists and final verdict
During the trial, Megan’s chances of acquittal seemed to rise when Will broke down and claimed he had fabricated the sexual relationship. Ben’s outburst in court, resulting in his ejection, further complicated matters. However, the judge allowed Will to retake the stand, where he admitted lying under oath and told the truth about the abuse. The jury found Megan guilty on all charges, and she received a five-year prison sentence.
