Carl Webster is taken in for questioning by police over the attack on Eva Price in the Rovers Return on Coronation Street, as his mother Debbie fears the worst. The suspicion falls on Carl after Ronnie and Kevin notice he is carrying a wallet stuffed full of cash, leading them to suspect he may have pushed Eva down the stairs while robbing the pub.
Carl's shady history on the cobbles
Carl has a long track record of lying, cheating, philandering and breaking hearts on the Street. He conducted an affair with Abi behind her husband Kevin's back, slept with James Bailey, and then ditched Abi once their relationship became too serious.
He has also repeatedly tried to swindle, con and gaslight his own mother Debbie out of her money and her beloved business, the Chariot Square Hotel. At the time, he believed she was his sister, but that has not excused his behaviour.
The Corriedale crash and Debbie's dementia
Carl's gift on his mother's wedding day was causing the Corriedale crash that Billy Mayhew died in, only to put Debbie in the driving seat and use her dementia to make her think she did it. He was perfectly fine with his mother going to prison for a crime he committed.
Eventually, Carl's conniving ways cost him all of his nine lives with Debbie, who finally gave up on any hope of him turning over a new leaf and cast him out into the cold.
Eva's attack and the police questioning
Since Carl had a car dropped on his head courtesy of Tyrone Dobbs, he has been slightly less contemptible than usual, but he still gets up to the occasional spot of mischief. His shady record makes it more likely for residents to point the finger in his direction when something bad happens.
When Eva is the victim of an assault in the Rovers by a mystery assailant, Debbie is the one who finds her. As a fraught Ben keeps vigil at Eva's hospital bedside, Kit questions Debbie and Carl about Eva's injuries. Carl describes how he helped Eva to clear up because she wasn't feeling well and then returned home.
When Debbie asserts that she is going to buy Eva some flowers, Carl pulls out his wallet stuffed full of cash. This raises alarm bells for Ronnie and Kevin, who know that Carl will do anything for cash. Regardless of Debbie's decision, the police take Carl in for questioning over the attack on Eva.
