Coronation Street’s Aaron is arrested for raping Amy while she was unconscious in distressing scenes

Coronation Street’s Amy Barlow reported her flatmate Aaron Sandford to the police on Tuesday, after he raped her when she was unconscious, leading to his arrest.

The soap tackled the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline which saw Amy pass out after having too much to drink. 

Summer Spellman read a text on Aaron’s phone suggesting to Amy they put things behind them. She then demanded to know what’s going on.  

Aaron admitted they slept together the night they broke up but it was a one off and they both regret it. 

Summer appeared devastated and confronted Amy who bursts into tears and assures her she’s got it all wrong before confessing to mother Tracy how Aaron raped her. 

Awful: The soap tackled the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline which saw Amy pass out after having too much to drink

Horrified: Tracy was horrified as Amy described how she passed out drunk and Aaron took advantage of her

Tracy was horrified as Amy described how she passed out drunk and Aaron took advantage of her. 

Amy says: ‘That night with Aaron was the first time I’d let my guard down. Never expected to be raped in my own bed by a mate.’ 

Heartbroken Steve and Tracy urged Amy to report Aaron to the police. With Tracy for support, Amy entered the police station and says she wants to report a rape.

She told the police officer: ‘He was my mate, and he did this to me’. 

Meanwhile, Aaron pleads his case to Summer, claiming he did nothing wrong and that: ‘She wanted it just as much as I did.’

He is later arrested by police at work, and taken away in a police car as Amy and Steve watch on. 

Viewers of the ITV show praised actors Elle Mulvaney (Amy) and James Craven (Aaron) for highlighting such an important topic but admitted it was a ‘tough watch.’

During the episode, drunk Amy and Aaron kiss while back at the flat they share, after he has a row with his girlfriend Summer, and despite her rejections, he makes the decision for her that they will have sex.

As they head into the bedroom, Amy rolls away from him intoxicated and unaware of what is happening, but Aaron continues to undress her.

Sharing their thoughts on Twitter, fans of the show said: ‘The Amy & Aaron story in corrie has made me feel so uncomfortable however it’s such an important topic to highlight. Tonights ep was done so well.’

Another added: ‘I have seen people moaning about the new consent storyline that kicked off in tonight’s #corrie with Amy and Aaron.

‘It’s a very important storyline that needs highlighting, I can’t wait for next weeks episodes, going to get great stuff from @ElleJMulvaney.’

A third person penned: ‘I’m not liking where this is heading he seems too keen on Amy.’

‘As soon as Amy passed out or said she felt sick, then Aaron should have stopped and got Amy some water and left her alone.’

The storyline will tackle the issues surrounded non-consensual sex as both teens struggle with the fallout of their night together.

As Amy slowly begins to remember details from the night, she realises that she didn’t consent to the sex, and was raped.

But Aaron repeatedly insists that they both consented to the sex, and tells Amy that he did nothing wrong.

Awful: Amy says: ‘ That night with Aaron was the first time I’d let my guard down. Never expected to be raped in my own bed by a mate’

Supportive: Heartbroken Steve and Tracy urged Amy to report Aaron to the police. With Tracy for support, Amy entered the police station and says she wants to report a rape

Plot: Viewers of the ITV show praised actors Elle Mulvaney (Amy) and James Craven (Aaron) for highlighting such an important topic but admitted it was a ‘tough watch.’

Thoughts: Viewers of the ITV show praised actors Elle Mulvaney and James Craven for highlighting such an important topic but admitted it was a ‘tough watch’

As Amy struggles with her emotions, coming to the realisation that she wasn’t able to consent to sex and was raped, Aaron tries to convince her that they both wanted it to happen and he did nothing wrong.

With family and friends and then the police becoming involved, viewers will see the different reactions and understandings of non consensual sexual activity as both teens battle with what happened that night.

It is hoped the storyline will open up conversations between families and friends about the issues surrounding sexual activity amongst young people, including consent, awareness, respect and education.

Coronation Street researchers have worked alongside The Schools Consent Project, a charity established in early 2015 which sends legally trained volunteers into schools to deliver workshops on the legal definition of sexual consent.

The Rape Crisis national freephone helpline is available on 0808 802 9999 (12 to 2.30pm and 7 to 9.30pm every day of the year)