EASTENDERS has aired a devastating double episode as Yolande Trueman was sexually assaulted by Pastor Clayton.
The Walford icon – who is played by actress Angela Wynter in the BBC soap – has been seen fending off the Pastor’s over-familar behaviour while they have been arranging a food bank fundraiser together.
But in the middle of the fundraiser, with everyone present, Pastor Clayton followed Yolande into the kitchen and locked the door.
He sexually assaulted her, leaving her sobbing on the floor.
She pulled herself together just in time for Denise walking in asking for more drinks for the guests.
Clayton followed her in and then acted as if nothing had happened, ushering Yolande out into the crowd to host once more.
Speaking to the crowd Yolande could barely get a “thank you everyone” out before tears streamed down her face silently.
As the Pastor began the raffle, Yolande dragged herself outside home, breaking down silently as she saw Patrick dancing in the kitchen cleaning it up.
Back outside she struggled to stop herself from breaking down and rushed into the launderette.
However she was found by Elaine who had spotted her from across the Square and she asked her what had happened.
“I just want to be alone,” said Yolande but Elaine refused to leave her.
“The Pastor… I don’t know what to say… Not me… He grabbed me so tight and he put his hand where he had no right to put it.
“He put his hand down there and wouldn’t stop.”
“That’s sexual assault,” said Elaine and then the soap played scenes across the years of Pastor Clayton sexually assaulting other women over the years.
Yolande told Elaine: “I knew something wasn’t right. These past few weeks, he had been very familiar.
“Touching my shoulder, touching my waist and always standing too close. And I told him. And he made me feel that I was imagining it.
“He was upset that I would think he had any untoward intentions. As if I was the one with the filthy mind. I felt so stupid.”
She told Elaine about how he had manipulated her and punished her for speaking up and Elaine told her that he would pay for what he’s done.
However in another flashback another of his victims spoke to the church – and they covered up his abuse.
Further flashbacks showed how the police didn’t take reports of his sexual assaults seriously.
Yolande was terrified at the thought of even reporting him, so Elaine promised to support her no matter what.
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But faced with the prospect of telling Patrick, Yolande couldn’t do it and asked Elaine to keep everything she had told her secret.
“I shouldn’t have told you, I shouldn’t have said anything,” Yolande said. “And I want you to do the same. Please, I’m begging you.”