The following article contains spoilers from the episode of Emmerdale dated February 12. It hasn’t aired on ITV1 yet, but can be viewed on ITVX. One of the latest additions on Emmerdale’s very long list of

killers is Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins), who despatched her murderous brother John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth by using one of his own drug-filled syringes on him.

All of this happened in the midst of total panic after the mayhem of the horrific Corriedale crash. An unhinged John had driven away from the village with Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller)

when their car collided with another one. The car was flipped upside down and in the aftermath John tried to escape.

Victoria’s end was sealed when she killed John

He ran into some woods, followed by Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley). There was a fight, during which they grappled over John’s shotgun and Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) was accidentally shot. John escaped, but was later found dead.

It later transpired that Victoria had been the one who killed John. His death was ruled as a suicide and everyone could have moved on, apart from two things: Victoria is no murderer and was haunted by her own guilt, and there was a witness to the killing.

Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) had filmed Victoria administering the drug to John and he used the footage to blackmail Robert into framing Moira (Natalie J Robb) for some of Celia Daniels’ (Jaye Griffiths) people trafficking crimes.

Joe’s ultimate ambition is to get his hands on Moira’s farm and the land that the Sugdens owned, to add to Kim Tate’s empire.

The Tates once again succeeded in their plan yesterday, as Vic threw in the towel and handed Joe a contract signed by her, Robert and Moira.

Feeling as though the village was now only home to bad memories, Victoria announced to her brother that she was going to leave for Portugal, to stay with Diane.

Vic was given even more reason to leave in today’s episode, as she discovered John’s ashes had been delivered to Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).

When she caught her brother and Tracy Metcalfe (Amy Wash) tipping them down the toilet, Vic was horrified. In her eyes, this was hugely disrespectful.

Robert really did struggle to understand why Vic was so upset by what she had seen, and felt the need to remind her that their sibling tried to kill them both. Amid the plot that’s seen them sell the farmland to Joe, Robert and Victoria’s relationship has seriously been tested.

Aaron tried to help Victoria see things from Robert’s perspective a while later, telling her that Robert’s grown up feeling as though he doesn’t have anyone in his corner.

Despite feeling bad, it didn’t sway Vic’s decision to leave. She told Robert that she loves him, but needs to focus on Harry.

She got in the taxi and left. In a heart-breaking moment, Robert stood in the middle of the road and wondered why Victoria would leave if she loved him.

Isabel Hodgins has left the role she’s played since 2006 after announcing in August that she’s pregnant with her first child with her husband Adam Whitehead, whom she married in spring last year.

The 31 year old actress has spoken about how ‘rough’ filming has been due to the pregnancy leaving her ‘knackered,’ but as she departs on her maternity leave she reflected that she’ll miss the place that’s been her work home for almost 20 years.

‘I will miss it. I love the people there, but I’ve worked there for 19 years, so I feel like I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do and been selfish with my career. Now, it’s time to devote my life to being a mum, that feels right to me.’