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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV Coronation Street's Abi Franklin in fight with Imran Habeeb's spy Ben in new filming snaps

Abi Franklin and Imran Habeeb are willing to do whatever it takes to get sole custody of their son. Earlier this year, fans were left shocked when mechanic Abi went into labour, not knowing she was pregnant.

Speculation over the father soon began and after revealing to the nurse she hadn't had sex for months despite her recent marriage to Kevin Webster, the paternity of baby Alfie came down to Abi's one-night stand which fans of the ITV soap already knew was with Imran.

Unbeknown to Imran, his fiancée Toyah Battersby was helping Abi after discovering she had given birth after she had relapsed from her drug addiction. However, the solicitor soon found out and put two and two together to figure out he was now a dad. He visited his newborn son in hospital, offering to help Abi get custody before it was decided the tot shouldn't be in his mum's care.

READ MORE: ITV Corrie's Faye Windass star Ellie Leach shares sweet message about co-star 'brothers'

And last month, Toyah finally found out the truth. The councillor, who has longed to be a mum, knew Imran had cheated on her but chose to forgive him as they planned to adopt. However, she later revealed at her and Imran's adoption hearing that her partner had been cheating on her and had a secret baby with their drug addict neighbour Abi.

This quickly turned into Toyah kicking Imran out of their home and having to say a heartbreaking goodbye to foster daughter Elsie after she wasn't allowed to adopt the little girl on her own. But in a twist, Imran soon came crawling back to ask Toyah if she would consider getting back together and raising his son Alfie as a family.

Abi is spying on Ben (ZENPIX LTD)

Despite giving a firm 'no' at first, Imran shared his concerns that Abi might be back on drugs and told her that he intends to fight for custody of Alfie and wanted them to raise him together. Toyah eventually agreed that she'd help him. And now things have turned dirty between the warring parents.

Imran, who is played by Charlie De Melo on the ITV soap, has hired paralegal Ben Chancellor to get dirt on Abi. The solicitor was left shocked at the levels the newcomer, played by Jon-Paul Bell, would go to in order for Imran to get the evidence he so desperately needs.

The paralegal does a drug deal after being paid off by Imran (ZENPIX LTD)

But during Friday's episode, Abi saw a tipsy Toyah and Imran escaping their hen and stag dos, vowing to get custody of Alfie and start a happy family life together once they are married. Abi looked on unimpressed and new filming images show the mum, whose son Seb was killed in a horrific hate crime last year, trying to turn the tables on her former fling.

Realising Imran has paid Ben a wad of cash to have drugs planted on her to help his case, Abi tries and gets
information on Ben as she sees him taking part in a drug deal. But as the paralegal spots Abi trying to picture him on her mobile a confrontation ensues.

The first look images of the scenes, filmed at Trafford Park, Ben's fear of being caught out soon turns to anger as he tries to snatch Abi's phone. She is seen struggling to get free as he wrestles with her, appearing to get more aggressive as he does. But it looks like viewers will be left wondering if Abi gets what she wants.

It comes after Toyah actress Georgia Taylor had been snapped filming scenes in Manchester alongside Sally Carman, who plays Abi. They appeared to show Toyah being kidnapped by Abi on her way to marry Imran as their battle over baby Alfie takes a wrong turn.

Ben gets increasingly angry at Abi (ZENPIX LTD)

The pictures showed that the wedding car, a Street Cars taxi complete with black ribbon, turns out to be driven by Abi who wants to prevent the wedding and scupper the couple's chances of adopting her surprise baby son.

Corrie spoilers have since revealed that Abi tries to persuade Toyah to cancel the wedding before dropping her off at the hotel leaving Corrie viewers wondering if Toyah will go through with it. Later Imran confronts Abi in the street and asserts that she’s an unfit mother.

The pair end up in a tussle for Abi's phone (ZENPIX LTD)

Then there's a twist as solicitor Elliot confirms that he’ll be representing Abi at her custody hearing after his fees are being paid by a mystery donor. Meanwhile, her former drug dealer Dean approaches hoping to score some drugs and Abi bungs him some cash to get rid of him.

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