Coronation Street fans were all pointing out the same thing as Simon Barlow squared up to his old associate Jacob Hay in a tense episode of the ITV soap. The teen had a showdown with former drug dealer Jacob after finding out he had been given a job at the Underworld factory by his stepmum Carla Connor.
Simon, played by Alex Bain, stormed into the factory and blasted Jacob in front of his new co-workers. He brought up his murky past as a drug dealer and revealed how he had tormented and taunted his mum Leanne over the death of her three-year-old son Oliver.
Last year with Leanne grieving for Oliver and unable to work, Simon took it upon himself to try and earn more cash and was roped into selling drugs for gangster Harvey Gaskell by Jacob while they were working together delivering takeaways for Dev Alahan. Harvey piled on the pressure when Simon wanted out of the gang so Leanne decided to fight to save her son from a life of crime.
READ MORE:
Evil Harvey played by Will Mellor picked on vulnerable Leanne to become part of his operation and he forced her to dress up as a nurse as a cover for him. During this harrowing county lines storyline Leanne ended up selling drugs herself for Harvey before being placed in a witness protection while helping police to bring him down.
But earlier this year Jacob returned to Weatherfield as a reformed character and the new boyfriend of Simon's cousin Amy Barlow, much to Simon's horror. When news of Jacob's new job reached Simon, Leanne, her partner Nick Tilsley and her sister Toyah, no-one could understand Carla's decision and Simon railed at her for her lack of loyalty.
He then called at the factory and publicly shamed Jacob for his violent, drug dealing former life and Jacob was deeply humiliated. Simon made it clear that he’d never forgive him and he’d better watch his back.
"When my mum was grieving over losing Oliver he took advantage, he taunted her over her dead little boy," he fumed. "I'm really upset about all of this."
But Corrie fans pointed out that Simon appears to have a 'short memory.' They took to Twitter to remind of his dark past when in 2015 he was at the centre of a domestic violence storyline which saw him attack Leanne.
@Shodanette tweeted: "Does Simon remember how much of a thug he used to be? Kicking his own mum! Pot calling the kettle black!" @alex_jonn_o asked: "Didn't Simon abuse Leanne?"
@suzysasha fumed: "Didn't he hit Leanne at one time. He's been a wicked little brat himself." @VampLover27 said: "You did a lot worse to Leanne, you have a short memory Simon." And @mikepriestley13 tweeted: "Simon walking around like he’s 10 men makes me laugh. it was disgusting what Jacob done and said to Leanne about losing Oliver but has Simon forget he hit his mum Leanne and threatened her in the past the hypocrite."
@itzzzo_ pointed out: "Short memories in soapland has Simon forgotten that he has too been vile to Leanne over the years?" and @lightbebe2020 reasoned: "Simon you beaten your mum in the past and well you were forgiven."
@ItsAlitha said: "What Jacob did was bad though, Leanne was grieving and he knew it. He's defo paying for it now! But Simon definitely isn't one to judge." And @scottishquine76 said: "Simon needs to remember Jacob was groomed too but he obviously had no family to support him to get out."
