Next week on Home and Away in the UK, the quiet coastal calm of Summer Bay is shattered once again as grief, guilt, and unfinished justice collide.

With counselor Wendell’s sentencing looming, the question at the heart of the drama is painfully clear: will Leah find the strength to speak out—and could

her decision ultimately determine how long Wendell spends behind bars?

Still reeling from the devastating loss of her nephew Theo, Leah is being forced to confront her grief in ways she has desperately tried to avoid. Wendell’s court appearance is no longer a distant legal formality; it is fast approaching, dragging Leah back to the night that changed everything. And as the pressure builds, the emotional fallout is rippling through every corner of her life.

Leah’s Grief Pushes Justin Away

In the weeks since Theo was brutally run down by Wendell, Leah has withdrawn into herself, struggling to process a loss that feels both sudden and unbearably cruel. Rather than leaning on her husband Justin, she has formed a growing emotional reliance on Theo’s close friend Sunny—something that has not gone unnoticed.

Justin is deeply concerned, not only about Leah’s wellbeing, but about his own place in her life. Time and again, he finds himself shut out as Leah seeks comfort elsewhere, leaving him feeling helpless and increasingly invisible. For Leah, however, Sunny represents something Justin cannot: a direct connection to Theo, untainted by family expectations or shared history. With Sunny, she feels heard without being managed, judged, or told how to grieve.

Those tensions reached boiling point last week after The Coastal News published an article praising Lacy for helping bring Wendell to justice—while reducing Theo’s death to little more than a footnote. Outraged by what she saw as a gross injustice, Leah stormed into the paper’s offices, demanding they put the record straight. The confrontation spiraled out of control, culminating in Leah’s arrest for trespassing.

It was Sunny—not Justin—who Leah called to support her at the police station, a choice that cut deeply. Justin, left on the outside yet again, struggled to understand why his wife continued to turn away from him when she needed support the most.

A Night That Changes Everything

When Leah later overheard David discussing her arrest with Alf and Marilyn in the diner, her sense of being judged intensified. Frustrated and overwhelmed, she went straight to Sunny’s room above the Surf Club. The two spent the entire night talking, sharing memories of Theo and sitting with the rawness of their grief.

Justin, meanwhile, was left wondering where his wife was and why she hadn’t come home.

The following day, Leah remained distant and emotionally closed off. When Justin finally caught up with her, she made it clear she didn’t have the energy for another conversation about her feelings. To Leah, everyone around her seemed intent on controlling her grief—everyone except Sunny.

Desperate for some sense of reassurance, Justin approached Sunny directly, asking him to at least give him a heads-up if Leah reached out again. Sunny was sympathetic, but firm. He wasn’t Leah’s keeper, and he couldn’t betray her trust. A later conversation with Alf offered Justin a painful but necessary perspective: Leah might simply need someone outside her immediate family—someone connected to Theo, but not bound by the same emotional baggage. It wasn’t necessarily a rejection of Justin, just her way of surviving.

A Photograph That Breaks the Dam

Amid the emotional turmoil, Cash and Eden receive their wedding album—a moment of joy tinged with sadness. Flicking through the photos, they pause at one particular image: Leah, Justin, and Theo together, smiling, unaware of what was to come. Cash gently suggests they give the photo to Leah and Justin.

When Cash arrives at Leah’s door, she immediately braces herself for more trouble, assuming this is about her arrest. But as she opens the envelope and sees the photograph, her composure crumbles. It’s the last picture ever taken of Theo—captured just hours before his death.

The image hits Leah with devastating clarity. For the first time since Theo died, something shifts. When Justin later returns home and Leah shows him the photo, she admits she doesn’t want to fight anymore. Justin, choosing compassion over resentment, reassures her that she can grieve however she needs. If talking to Sunny helps, he won’t stand in her way.

Leah thanks him, acknowledging she should have told him where she was that night—but then slips again, saying, “Next time I’m with Theo, I’ll call or text you.” The words hang heavily between them.

Later, a troubled Justin confides in Sunny, revealing his growing fear: Leah has referred to Sunny as Theo more than once. To Justin, it’s clear Leah feels closer to Theo when she’s with Sunny, and that closeness is starting to blur into denial.

Sunny listens carefully, but ultimately refuses to step back. Whatever the confusion, he won’t abandon Leah while she’s drowning in grief. He also makes it clear that Justin isn’t alone—if he ever needs to talk, Sunny will be there for him too.

Wendell’s Sentencing Forces a Reckoning

As emotions continue to simmer, attention turns back to Wendell. At the beach house, David tells Lacy he’s heard from the Director of Public Prosecutions: Wendell’s sentencing hearing is fast approaching. Now is the critical moment to consider submitting victim impact statements.

Initially, Lacy is confused. Wendell has already been convicted—why reopen the wound? David explains that while sentencing guidelines exist, victim impact statements can still carry enormous weight, ensuring the full human cost of Wendell’s actions is on record. He reassures her she wouldn’t have to face Wendell in court and could record the statement privately.

That reassurance is enough. Lacy is determined to go ahead. Wendell didn’t just take Theo—he also killed Lacy’s mother and her boyfriend. She wants the court to hear exactly what he’s done and the devastation he’s left behind.

But when David approaches Leah with the same information, it’s immediately clear she’s not ready. The idea of reliving everything feels unbearable.

Later that evening, Lacy admits to David that she’s worried Leah might back out. David gently explains that Leah’s grief is still raw—and that victim impact statements can be incredibly confronting.

A Final Plea

Undeterred, Lacy seeks Leah out herself. The reception is icy. Leah still blames Lacy for Theo’s death and wants nothing to do with her. But Lacy refuses to walk away. She explains the situation, acknowledging that David warned her Leah might not want to take part.

Leah shuts her down, insisting it’s none of her business. But Lacy presses on, admitting it will be hell—but refusing to let that stop her. Theo no longer has a voice, she says. That’s why it’s up to them to speak for him now. If she has to, she’ll do it alone—but together, they could make a far greater impact.

Leah is torn. She wants to help, but the pain feels overwhelming. In a final plea, Lacy suggests they record the statements together. They owe it to Theo. They owe it to themselves.

As Wendell’s fate hangs in the balance, the question remains: will Leah put aside her resentment and find the courage to speak out—or will her silence allow Wendell to escape the full weight of his crimes?