Emmerdale’s Eric Pollard is set for more trouble with out-of-control youth Josh Crowther when the lad steals a gun from him.
Josh (Conner Chapman) has already tormented Pollard (Chris Chittell) by attacking him at his shop, leaving the long-running character in a deep depression.
But just as the pair begin trying to build bridges, Josh makes another error of judgment and steals Pollard’s shotgun which then goes off.
Chittell said: “Josh – how he thinks it’s permissible to go into someone else’s property to steal a firearm, I cannot conceive in any possible way why he would think that was a good idea.
“Jacob is in cloud cuckoo land – can he not see that the boy is out for what he can get, he is out to destroy, he cares about himself and nobody else.
He added: “Of course lives are at risk – you’ve got a weapon out there at large, a double-barrelled shotgun, no doubt he’s got cartridges, and he’s not responsible at all.”
The actor added that the consequences of Josh’s actions would leave Pollard in even greater despair.
“For the time being, he’s lost, doesn’t trust anybody now.”
:: The gun theft storyline is due to air on ITV from August 7.
