AN Emmerdale resident was forced to quit the Dales after a shocking assault saw her dragged away by police.

Ella Forster, played by Paula Lane, found herself driven away from Emmerdale by the cops after she lashed out in a scary unprovoked attack.

It meant that she was unlikely to be seen in the Dales again after being taken straight to the police station amid the drama-filled episode.

In tonight’s dramatic episode, Ella’s violent side shone through as she lashed out at poor Wendy Posner in a brutal unprovoked assault.

It came after she suffered an unexpected run-in with Gary, a relative of Joanna, the girl Ella murdered when she was just 11 years old.

Gary had tracked her down to The Woolpack after photos of Ella appeared online in the village.

After a furious brithday showdown, Ella was chased by Gary through the village before Wendy could intervene.

Offering Ella a shoulder to cry on, Wendy took her inside the surgery and attempted to comfort her.

However, Ella astonishly whacked Wendy around the face sending her flying into the back wall of the surgery.

Wendy’s nose bled as a menacing Ella angrily said to the nurse: “You think you know me?

In a rage, she begun flinging objects at Wendy and chillingly threatened that she would “really hurt” her if she didn’t make the call to the cops.

As Wendy reported the incident, Ella added down the phone: “If you don’t get down here soon, she gets it in the neck!”

Manpreet then barged in, allowing Wendy to run out as she whaled: “She has lost it!”

Eventually, Manpreet attempted to calm down the raging Ella who opened up on her difficulties in life.

She later admitted she was “tired” of watching her back and fearing being caught out and that she wanted to return “home”.

It soon became clear that Ella was referring to prison as she felt she could relax “back inside”.

PC Swirling soon arrested her and took Ella towards the cop car as a desperate Manpreet, now joined by Liam, begged for her release.

Ella refused any help of fancy lawyers as she insisted it was right that she was taken away by the police.

She placed a tender kiss on Liam’s cheek before getting into the police car.

As it rolled away, Ella looked solemn as she appeared to be coming to terms with a life behind bars.

Speaking about the chaotic episode, actress Paula revealed: “Ella attacked Wendy because she felt there was no way out. Wendy’s kind words about people caring for her struck Ella hard.

“She finds it difficult to believe that could ever be the case. She’s frustrated that this new place she now calls home will always know her real identity.

“There is no hiding only in prison, that bizarrely is her safe place and she knows exactly what to do to get back there.”

Whilst addressing her future, she went on to add: “I hope for her she can move on but the trauma she has experienced will forever be a lasting scar.

“It will take the right people around her to help support her to enable her to have a happy future.”