Emmerdale viewers were relieved and exultant when Pierce Harris was found guilty of raping his wife Rhona Goskirk on their wedding night in Friday night's episode of the soap.
Justice was finally served for Rhona as the trial drew to a close and Pierce was sentenced to five years in prison.
The long-running storyline has been praised by viewers for drawing attention to the issue of consent.
REPLAY: Pierce is found GUILTY! Watch a clip now #ITSNOTOK #Emmerdale pic.twitter.com/3l4lCMmFV3
— Emmerdale (@emmerdale) July 28, 2017
Rhona was overcome with emotion after hearing the guilty verdict and left the court room before Pierce's jail sentence was revealed.
Actress Zoe Henry, who has been commended for her sensitive portrayal of Rhona, said to Digital Spy: "It's a moment of disbelief, she didn't dare hope for this and it's happened.
"But there is a numbness and an emptiness that still overwhelms her. It's not the reaction she thought she'd have, or as a viewer you'd think she would have, but it's been so enormous and so exhausting that actually what comes is tears and overwhelming sadness.
"At the end of the day, she did love Pierce and she's been left in a situation where she is not the woman she was. She was married to a man who abused her and her life is now in tatters. It's quite moving how she reacts."
Jonathan Wrather, who has played the villain Pierce for the past year and a half, will now be departing the show and Henry said she is "absolutely gutted" she won't be working with him again.
"There is no other way to describe it", she said. "You do become really close and Johnny often stays with us when he's filming.
"But as devastated as I am to be saying goodbye to a colleague, I absolutely know that I have made a new friend and I know I will be seeing him again socially – I'm just sad it won't be in the work capacity."
The actress took to Twitter after Pierce's verdict was aired to say the praise and support they received from viewers meant "a great deal"
THANKYOU for all your praise and support for the Rape storyline. It means a great deal to us all. #Emmerdale #ITSNOTOK
— Zoe Henry (@ZoeHenry03) July 28, 2017
Wrather also thanked fans on Twitter for the "phenomenal response" to the Rhona and Pierce storyline.
Phenomenal response/support for the Rhona/Pierce story and this wks trial. Thank you for all the very kind comments @emmerdale #rhonapierce
— Jonathan Wrather (@jpwrather) July 28, 2017
See some of the responses to Pierce's guilty verdict below.
I'm so glad Pierce was found guilty and Rhona got justice for the 94% of raped spouses who do not get the same result #Emmerdale #ITSNOTOK
— Emmerdale Fans (@TheEmmerdaily) July 28, 2017
Yes Pierce is found guilty #justiceforRhona thank goodness for that! #Emmerdale
— Danny Miller Fansite (@DannyMFansite) July 28, 2017
Pierce was found guilty! thank you @emmerdale, @ZoeHenry03 and @jpwrather for spreading awareness on this important issue.
— riley (@kardamommevak) July 28, 2017
Emmerdale have outdone themselves with the Rhonda/Pierce marital rape storyline #emmerdale #ITSNOTOK
— Morgan🌹 (@mryyyy_) July 28, 2017
@ZoeHenry03 yet again an amazing performance & credit to @jpwrather he has also been fantastic in his portrayal as Pierce 💔🤝👍#Emmerdale
— Danny Miller Fansite (@DannyMFansite) July 28, 2017
What a Great Storyline Finally Pierce's face was a picture Well Done All @ZoeHenry03 @emmerdale #Rhona #Emmerdale 🤷👏
— Amy Owens (@AmyHale61193) July 28, 2017
So pleased Emmerdale got something so important so right. Sends out a powerful and positive message to victims everywhere #Emmerdale
— terriwoods (@terriwoodschels) July 28, 2017
YEEEESSSS!!!! GUIIILLLTTTYYY!!!! Massive well done @ZoeHenry03 @jpwrather outstanding acting from both!! Well done all involved! @emmerdale
— Suzie Law-Pritchard (@SuzieLPritchard) July 28, 2017
If you have been affected by any of these issues please contact the Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 778 888 or the Samaritans on 116 123.
