This article contains spoilers for tonight’s Coronation Street, which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on YouTube and ITVX.

Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) has managed to upset just about everyone in his family circle, and a few more besides.

In his relatively short time on the cobbles, he’s already stolen Kevin Webster’s (Michael Le Vell) wife, Abi (Sally Carman), then cheated on her with James Bailey (Jason Callender). He’s pulled Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) and Brody Michaelis (Ryan Mulvey) into a car theft scam and left Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) with serious injuries after a hit and run.

But none of that holds a candle to how he’s treated Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) – arguably the only person who is still on his side.

Since learning about her dementia diagnosis, he has used it to cover his affair with Abi and convince Debbie that she’d booked a holiday so that she would leave him with unlimited access to the hotel bank accounts – which, of course, he has been stealing from.

Despite all of this, nothing could have prepared us for Carl’s most depraved move yet: Framing Debbie for the Corriedale pile-up.

When Carl got behind the wheel of his car drunk after Debbie’s wedding to Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan), she got in with him, determined not to part with him on bad terms.

As Carl sped dangerously down the country roads, they continued to argue about how Debbie had been in contact with Carl’s mum before she died.

However, disaster struck when they reached the scene of the already catastrophic crash, where the Swains had collided headfirst with Emmerdale’s Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), and the minibus carrying guests home from the wedding had flipped on its side.

Carl’s car smashed into the minibus, sending it careening into the Swains and rendering Debbie unconscious. When Carl climbed out of the car, he moved Debbie into the driver’s seat to make it look as though she were driving.

As if things couldn’t get any worse, Carl later told Debbie that they had agreed to swap, as she was concerned about him being drunk. Despite Kevin’s insistence that Carl was lying, Debbie chose to go along with Carl’s version of events, and was charged with death by dangerous driving and driving while drunk after an interrogation from police.

While Debbie was at the station, Carl thought this would be a good time to do a runner, only he soon realised that he wouldn’t get far without the money he’d stolen from Debbie which, in turn, had been stolen by Abi. You reap what you sow, ‘ey Carl?

In tonight’s episode, he confronted his ex and she smugly admitted that she had used the money to pay off her debts, before donating the rest to a hospice.

He was completely furious and guilt-tripped her by insisting that the money had been given to him by Debbie.

Knowing that 99% of what comes out of Carl’s mouth is a lie, Abi decided to call his bluff and ask Debbie herself, which obviously sent Carl into a panic.

However, when Abi confronted Debbie in the Rovers in front of the rest of the family and several of their friends, they were all equally as shocked as Carl when Debbie confirmed that she had given him the cash.

Still determined to bring about Carl’s downfall, Abi exposed his affair with James, much to Ronnie’s disappointment.

However, Carl’s plan to leave her riddled with guilt had worked, and Abi apologised profusely to Debbie for spending the money. Debbie easily forgave her, and promised she didn’t have to pay any of it back on the condition that she went back to work at the garage.

With Debbie covering for Carl, first with the crash and now with the theft, it seems he is solid Teflon… Or is he?

While Abi may have failed to bring Carl to justice, another hero looks to be lurking in the shadows… and it’s none other than Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott)!

We won’t spoil his exact plan – you’ll have to watch the episode for that – but he has given Kevin his word that Carl will pay for his actions. Will Ryan succeed where so many others have failed?