The Vinny attack scenes are hard to watch but I've had so many messages from people who say they've had similar experiences

Dumped just five weeks after tying the knot with Gabby Emmerdale's Thomas, Vinny Dingle was left devastated last night.

- BY CHRISTINE SMITH

After discovering that Vinny was struggling with his sexuality and concerned that history was repeating itself, Gabby-whose first fiancé Nicky Milligan admitted he was gay - told Vinny she was moving back to Home Farm.

It was a doubly crushing blow as Vinny had hoped to adopt her son Thomas.

But theirs had never been a marriage made in heaven.

As well as Vinny flirting with pal Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches), there was the discovery that Gabby (Rosie Bentham) had cheated on Vinny.

And his secretive online friendship with a man called Graham Connolly, also known as Mike, turned nasty when Vinny mistakenly thought Mike's intentions were romantic. He beat Vinny up, then blackmailed him.

The scenes attracted nearly 300 Ofcom complaints from viewers upset by scenes of Vinny's suffering.

In court, he bravely stood up to his attacker, who was jailed. But Vinny had to admit they met on a web forum for people questioning their sexuality - and Gabby heard.

Actor Bradley Johnson, 28, who has played Vinny for six years, says he has been overwhelmed by fans’ concern for his character.

He tells The Mirror: “The amount of support I have had has been really lovely.

“The attack scenes were a hard watch but it’s been an important storyline to tell and I've had messages from people telling me they have been through something similar. As an actor, if I can help one person think, ‘If Vinny can tell the truth, then so can I’, then that's a positive.

“Emmerdale is very good at subjects people don't want to talk about. People do confide in online forums and this has highlighted the dangers of doing that. But, with the right support network around you, things can change.”